# Is "The Colossus of New York" by Colson Whitehead a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Colossus of New York by Colson Whitehead (Doubleday, 2003) is identified by: Doubleday, New York, 2003, hardcover in dust jacket. The US Doubleday 2003 hardcover is the true first edition of this essay collection.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Doubleday, New York, 2003, hardcover in dust jacket
- First printing shows 'October 2003' and 'First Edition' on the copyright page above a number line descending to 1; a printed price appears on the jacket flap
- Essay collection subtitled A City in Thirteen Parts
- Publisher imprint reads Doubleday
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Colson Whitehead |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
| Year | 2003 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Doubleday, New York, 2003, hardcover in dust jacket |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Doubleday, New York, 2003, hardcover in dust jacket. First printing shows 'October 2003' and 'First Edition' on the copyright page above a number line descending to 1; a printed price appears on the jacket flap. Essay collection subtitled A City in Thirteen Parts.

## Is this the true first?
The US Doubleday 2003 hardcover is the true first edition of this essay collection.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book-club conflict noted; verify the 'First Edition' statement, the 'October 2003' line, and the number line ending in 1.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Colossus of New York* by Colson Whitehead a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-colossus-of-new-york
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.