The points of issue
First printing has 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page with no number line removing it; first-issue jacket priced the printed price and shows the Knopf borzoi colophon. The Tyrannosaurus-skeleton jacket art (by Chip Kidd) is on the first.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf hardcover is the true first, preceding the UK Century (1991). Note the well-known first-state point sometimes cited is the price and the 'First Edition' statement; verify it is not a book-club copy.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-of-the-Month Club / SFBC edition: no the printed price on flap, blind-stamped dot/square on the rear board, smaller trim and cheaper paper. The BCE is very common; the trade first in fine priced jacket is worth far more.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Jurassic Park a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page with no number line removing it; first-issue jacket priced the printed price and shows the Knopf borzoi colophon. The Tyrannosaurus-skeleton jacket art (by Chip Kidd) is on the first.
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 hardcover is the true first, preceding the UK Century (1991). Note the well-known first-state point sometimes cited is the price and the 'First Edition' statement; verify it is not a book-club copy.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-of-the-Month Club / SFBC edition: no the printed price on flap, blind-stamped dot/square on the rear board, smaller trim and cheaper paper. The BCE is very common; the trade first in fine priced jacket is worth far more.
I have a first edition of Jurassic Park — 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.