The points of issue
Copyright page states 'First Edition' with a full number line ending in 1. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-307-40884-6. First-issue jacket carries the printed price.
Is this the true first?
US Crown is the true first, preceding the UK (Doubleday) edition. Distinct from The Devil in the White City (already cataloged).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club hardcover of note; confusion is with later Crown printings. The 'First Edition' statement plus a number line ending in 1, with the printed-price jacket, identifies the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Devil in the White City — deeper Larson: In the Garden of Beasts a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'First Edition' with a full number line ending in 1. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-307-40884-6. First-issue jacket carries the printed price.
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 Crown is the true first, preceding the UK (Doubleday) edition. Distinct from The Devil in the White City (already cataloged).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club hardcover of note; confusion is with later Crown printings. The 'First Edition' statement plus a number line ending in 1, with the printed-price jacket, identifies the first.
I have a first edition of The Devil in the White City — deeper Larson: In the Garden of Beasts — 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.