# Is "Swamplandia!" by Karen Russell a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Swamplandia! by Karen Russell (Alfred A. Knopf, 2011) is identified by: Borzoi/Knopf copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with a full number line descending to 1; Borzoi colophon. US Knopf hardcover (February 2011, published February 4) is the true first; the UK Chatto & Windus edition is a separate first-thus.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Borzoi/Knopf copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with a full number line descending to 1
- Borzoi colophon
- A true first carries the unclipped flap price
- Russell's first novel (2012 Pulitzer finalist), which grew out of 'Ava Wrestles the Alligator' in St
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Karen Russell |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 2011 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Borzoi/Knopf copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with a full number line descending to 1 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Borzoi/Knopf copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with a full number line descending to 1; Borzoi colophon. A true first carries the unclipped flap price. Russell's first novel (2012 Pulitzer finalist), which grew out of 'Ava Wrestles the Alligator' in St. Lucy's.

## Is this the true first?
US Knopf hardcover (February 2011, published February 4) is the true first; the UK Chatto & Windus edition is a separate first-thus.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions are lighter in weight and omit the number line and the flap price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Swamplandia!* by Karen Russell a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/swamplandia
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.