The points of issue
First printing has a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page and the Farrar, Straus and Giroux colophon. The dust jacket front flap carries the original printed price. ISBN 978-0-374-15846-0.
Is this the true first?
The US Farrar, Straus and Giroux hardcover is the true first. In Britain the first HarperCollins printing was found to use an uncorrected early draft and was recalled, making those recalled British copies a separate and notable textual variant; the US first is unaffected and remains the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No US book-club edition issue affecting the true first; later FSG printings advance the number line so the lowest number is greater than 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Freedom a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page and the Farrar, Straus and Giroux colophon. The dust jacket front flap carries the original printed price. ISBN 978-0-374-15846-0.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. The US Farrar, Straus and Giroux hardcover is the true first. In Britain the first HarperCollins printing was found to use an uncorrected early draft and was recalled, making those recalled British copies a separate and notable textual variant; the US first is unaffected and remains the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No US book-club edition issue affecting the true first; later FSG printings advance the number line so the lowest number is greater than 1.
I have a first edition of Freedom — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.