# Is "Means of Ascent (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Vol. 2)" by Robert A. Caro a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Means of Ascent (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Vol. 2) by Robert A. Caro (Alfred A. Knopf, 1990) is identified by: Published by Alfred A. US Knopf true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Published by Alfred A. Knopf (Borzoi Books), New York, 1990; octavo, xxxiv + 506 pages, illustrated with a section of photographs
- Bound in black cloth with gilt lettering to the spine and cover
- The copyright page states 'First Edition' with the Borzoi colophon and carries no later-printing line
- Issued in a predominantly white first-state dust jacket with the printed price present on the flap (unclipped)
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Robert A. Caro |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 1990 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Published by Alfred A. Knopf (Borzoi Books), New York, 1990; octavo, xxxiv + 506 pages, illustrated with a section of photographs |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Published by Alfred A. Knopf (Borzoi Books), New York, 1990; octavo, xxxiv + 506 pages, illustrated with a section of photographs. Bound in black cloth with gilt lettering to the spine and cover. The copyright page states 'First Edition' with the Borzoi colophon and carries no later-printing line. Issued in a predominantly white first-state dust jacket with the printed price present on the flap (unclipped).

## Is this the true first?
US Knopf true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The book-club issue lacks the stated 'First Edition' line and the printed jacket price, and is typically a lighter, smaller volume than the Knopf trade first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Means of Ascent (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Vol. 2)* by Robert A. Caro a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/means-of-ascent-the-years-of-lyndon-johnson-vol-2
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.