The points of issue
Copyright page states "First Trade Edition," published April 1992. Bound in black boards with a black cloth spine, lettered in gilt; the dust jacket carries the printed retail price at the top of the front flap and a dating code at the foot of the rear flap. A true first must show the stated First Trade Edition.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf trade printing of 1992 is the true first edition. A separate signed limited edition was privately printed by the Franklin Library for its Signed First Edition Society; that is a distinct issue, not the Knopf trade first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Jazz was a Book-of-the-Month Club main selection; the club edition is distinguished by a blind-stamped rear board and a dust jacket lacking the printed price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Jazz a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states "First Trade Edition," published April 1992. Bound in black boards with a black cloth spine, lettered in gilt; the dust jacket carries the printed retail price at the top of the front flap and a dating code at the foot of the rear flap. A true first must show the stated First Trade Edition.
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 trade printing of 1992 is the true first edition. A separate signed limited edition was privately printed by the Franklin Library for its Signed First Edition Society; that is a distinct issue, not the Knopf trade first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Jazz was a Book-of-the-Month Club main selection; the club edition is distinguished by a blind-stamped rear board and a dust jacket lacking the printed price.
I have a first edition of Jazz — 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.