The points of issue
First edition, first printing. Subtitled A Novel in Four Movements. Published in 1974 by both Alfred A. Knopf in the US and Jonathan Cape in the UK. The Knopf edition is dated to May 1974; the Cape month is not firmly documented.
Is this the true first?
Both the US Knopf and UK Cape editions are dated 1974. The Knopf edition is recorded as May 1974, but the Cape publication month is not established in available sources, so precedence cannot be confirmed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue noted.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Napoleon Symphony a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing. Subtitled A Novel in Four Movements. Published in 1974 by both Alfred A. Knopf in the US and Jonathan Cape in the UK. The Knopf edition is dated to May 1974; the Cape month is not firmly documented.
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. Both the US Knopf and UK Cape editions are dated 1974. The Knopf edition is recorded as May 1974, but the Cape publication month is not established in available sources, so precedence cannot be confirmed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue noted.
I have a first edition of Napoleon Symphony — 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.