# Is "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors: A Search for Who We Are" by Carl Sagan a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors: A Search for Who We Are by Carl Sagan (Random House, 1992) is identified by: Random House states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1; issued in a priced dust jacket. US Random House printing is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Random House states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1; issued in a priced dust jacket
- Co-written with Ann Druyan
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Carl Sagan |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1992 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Random House states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Random House states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1; issued in a priced dust jacket. Co-written with Ann Druyan.

## Is this the true first?
US Random House printing is the true first. A UK Century edition appeared the same year with a variant subtitle, but the US edition is the first publication.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No prominent book-club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors: A Search for Who We Are* by Carl Sagan a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/shadows-of-forgotten-ancestors-a-search-for-who-we-are
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.