# Is "Interview with the Vampire" by Anne Rice a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice (Alfred A. Knopf, 1976) is identified by: 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page (Rice's debut), with '1976' on the title page and no additional-printing notation. US Knopf 1976 is the true first (Rice's debut) and precedes the first British edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page (Rice's debut), with '1976' on the title page and no additional-printing notation
- Binding: dark grey paper boards with a black cloth spine lettered in gilt, and a red top-stain
- The first-issue jacket is the gold-foil jacket with the price present on the front flap; its rear panel bears the author's photograph WITHOUT any review blurbs and WITHOUT a photo credit (the recognized first-state jacket point), with the ISBN (394-49821-6) at the lower rear panel
- The stated 'FIRST EDITION' line together with this review-free, credit-free rear panel distinguish the true first
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Anne Rice |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 1976 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page (Rice's debut), with '1976' on the title page and no additional-printing notation |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page (Rice's debut), with '1976' on the title page and no additional-printing notation. Binding: dark grey paper boards with a black cloth spine lettered in gilt, and a red top-stain. The first-issue jacket is the gold-foil jacket with the price present on the front flap; its rear panel bears the author's photograph WITHOUT any review blurbs and WITHOUT a photo credit (the recognized first-state jacket point), with the ISBN (394-49821-6) at the lower rear panel. The stated 'FIRST EDITION' line together with this review-free, credit-free rear panel distinguish the true first.

## Is this the true first?
US Knopf 1976 is the true first (Rice's debut) and precedes the first British edition. The UK first is Raven Books / Macdonald and Jane's (London, 1976), issued later the same year — note its jacket is the PHOTOGRAPHIC vampire-with-candelabrum design, not to be confused with the US gold-foil jacket. First state of the US book is told by the stated 'FIRST EDITION,' the unclipped priced gold-foil jacket, and the review-free, credit-free author photo on the rear panel.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions omit the stated 'FIRST EDITION,' carry a rear-board blind-stamp, use cheaper boards, and have a jacket with no printed price. The stated 'FIRST EDITION' line is the primary separator; the gold-foil jacket's review-free, credit-free rear panel confirms a first-issue jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Interview with the Vampire* by Anne Rice a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/interview-with-the-vampire
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.