# Is "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (Crown Publishers, 2003) is identified by: First edition, first printing: Crown, 2003, with 'First Edition' stated and the full number line '1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2' (the '1' present) on the copyright page. US Crown 2003 is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition, first printing: Crown, 2003, with 'First Edition' stated and the full number line '1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2' (the '1' present) on the copyright page
- First-issue dust jacket priced (the printed price)
- Publisher imprint reads Crown Publishers
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Erik Larson |
| Publisher | Crown Publishers |
| Year | 2003 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition, first printing: Crown, 2003, with 'First Edition' stated and the full number line '1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2' (the '1' present)… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition, first printing: Crown, 2003, with 'First Edition' stated and the full number line '1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2' (the '1' present) on the copyright page. First-issue dust jacket priced (the printed price).

## Is this the true first?
US Crown 2003 is the true first. A modern bestseller; signed first printings are desirable. Look for both 'First Edition' and the '1' in the number line.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack the full number line, are on thinner paper and slightly smaller, and carry unpriced jackets; later trade printings drop the '1.'

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Devil in the White City* by Erik Larson a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-devil-in-the-white-city
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.