# Is "The Empress File" by John Sandford a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Empress File by John Sandford (Henry Holt and Company, 1991) is identified by: The true first edition is bylined JOHN CAMP, not John Sandford. US Henry Holt (1991) is the true first, under the byline John Camp.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The true first edition is bylined JOHN CAMP, not John Sandford. 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with a complete number line descending to 1, in the priced dust jacket
- Quarter black cloth over grey paper boards with red spine lettering
- Publisher imprint reads Henry Holt and Company
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John Sandford |
| Publisher | Henry Holt and Company |
| Year | 1991 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The true first edition is bylined JOHN CAMP, not John Sandford. 'First Edition' stated on… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
The true first edition is bylined JOHN CAMP, not John Sandford. 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with a complete number line descending to 1, in the priced dust jacket. Quarter black cloth over grey paper boards with red spine lettering.

## Is this the true first?
US Henry Holt (1991) is the true first, under the byline John Camp. It is the second Kidd novel, following The Fool's Run. Later John Sandford-bylined printings are reissues.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book-club edition concern is documented; verify the priced jacket and stated First Edition to distinguish the first printing.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Empress File* by John Sandford a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-empress-file
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.