The points of issue
First edition, first printing: Doubleday, 1976, with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page (Doubleday convention) and no later-printing codes. First-issue dust jacket priced (the printed price). Issued just before the landmark 1977 TV miniseries.
Is this the true first?
US Doubleday 1976 is the true first. The 1977 miniseries triggered enormous reprinting; pre-miniseries first printings are the desirable state. Signed Haley copies command premiums.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Roots was a major Book-of-the-Month Club title; BOMC copies lack the Doubleday 'First Edition' statement, have a blind BOMC board dot, are slightly smaller, and carry unpriced jackets. Club copies are very common.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Roots: The Saga of an American Family a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing: Doubleday, 1976, with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page (Doubleday convention) and no later-printing codes. First-issue dust jacket priced (the printed price). Issued just before the landmark 1977 TV miniseries.
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 Doubleday 1976 is the true first. The 1977 miniseries triggered enormous reprinting; pre-miniseries first printings are the desirable state. Signed Haley copies command premiums.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Roots was a major Book-of-the-Month Club title; BOMC copies lack the Doubleday 'First Edition' statement, have a blind BOMC board dot, are slightly smaller, and carry unpriced jackets. Club copies are very common.
I have a first edition of Roots: The Saga of an American Family — 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.