The points of issue
Copyright page states 'First Edition' with the Knopf colophon. The first-printing text point is the omission of the word 'with' in line 21 of page 289 (corrected in later printings). Navy quarter cloth over orange/light-brown boards, gilt spine lettering; first-issue jacket carries its printed flap price unclipped and bears no award stickers/text. Frank Bascombe #2 — won both the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf 1995 is the true first; the UK Harvill edition follows. A signed limited edition was also issued.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies lack the 'First Edition' statement, are typically smaller with a blind-stamped rear board and a price-less jacket; later printings correct the page-289 text and may add award mentions to the jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Independence Day a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'First Edition' with the Knopf colophon. The first-printing text point is the omission of the word 'with' in line 21 of page 289 (corrected in later printings). Navy quarter cloth over orange/light-brown boards, gilt spine lettering; first-issue jacket carries its printed flap price unclipped and bears no award stickers/text. Frank Bascombe #2 — won both the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award.
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. US Knopf 1995 is the true first; the UK Harvill edition follows. A signed limited edition was also issued.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies lack the 'First Edition' statement, are typically smaller with a blind-stamped rear board and a price-less jacket; later printings correct the page-289 text and may add award mentions to the jacket.
I have a first edition of Independence Day — 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.