# Is "The Day of the Jackal" by Frederick Forsyth a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth (Hutchinson, 1971) is identified by: UK Hutchinson first, 1971 (June). UK Hutchinson 1971 is the true first, preceding the US Viking 1971 (which appeared roughly two months later with a Paul Bacon jacket).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- UK Hutchinson first, 1971 (June)
- Publisher's red boards with gilt lettering to the spine and grey endpapers
- The first-issue dust jacket bears the notation 'Reprinted before publication' on the flap, reflecting the immediate pre-publication demand, and retains its printed price
- Copyright page dated 1971 with no later-impression statement
- Forsyth's debut novel
- Publisher imprint reads Hutchinson
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Frederick Forsyth |
| Publisher | Hutchinson |
| Year | 1971 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | UK Hutchinson first, 1971 (June) |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
UK Hutchinson first, 1971 (June). Publisher's red boards with gilt lettering to the spine and grey endpapers. The first-issue dust jacket bears the notation 'Reprinted before publication' on the flap, reflecting the immediate pre-publication demand, and retains its printed price. Copyright page dated 1971 with no later-impression statement. Forsyth's debut novel.

## Is this the true first?
UK Hutchinson 1971 is the true first, preceding the US Viking 1971 (which appeared roughly two months later with a Paul Bacon jacket). The UK first in red boards with grey endpapers is the collected copy; signed copies are scarce.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
US Viking is the American first; Book Club Associates (BCA) UK editions exist, identified by the BCA imprint and a jacket lacking the printed price. Confirm the true first by the Hutchinson imprint, red boards, grey endpapers, and the 'Reprinted before publication' jacket note.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Day of the Jackal* by Frederick Forsyth a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-day-of-the-jackal
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.