# Is "Olive Kitteridge" by Elizabeth Strout a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (Random House, 2008) is identified by: Random House first printing has 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page together with a full descending number line ending in 1. The US Random House 2008 hardcover is the true first edition; the 'First Edition' statement plus a number line ending in 1 confirms a first printing.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Random House first printing has 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page together with a full descending number line ending in 1
- The first-issue cloth and dust jacket carry the printed jacket price on the flap
- The decisive tell is the combination of the 'First Edition' statement and the 1 in the number line
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Elizabeth Strout |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 2008 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Random House first printing has 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page together with a full descending number line ending in 1 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Random House first printing has 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page together with a full descending number line ending in 1. The first-issue cloth and dust jacket carry the printed jacket price on the flap. The decisive tell is the combination of the 'First Edition' statement and the 1 in the number line.

## Is this the true first?
The US Random House 2008 hardcover is the true first edition; the 'First Edition' statement plus a number line ending in 1 confirms a first printing.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the 'First Edition' statement and the number line and typically show a blind-stamp on the rear board.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Olive Kitteridge* by Elizabeth Strout a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/olive-kitteridge
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.