The points of issue
First edition states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a number line ending in 1, under the Doubleday imprint; the dust jacket carries the printed price. Issued as a hardcover.
Is this the true first?
The US Doubleday hardcover (2007) is the true first edition; the novel won the 2008 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the 'First Edition' statement and number line, are slightly smaller, and have a jacket with no printed price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Great Man a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a number line ending in 1, under the Doubleday imprint; the dust jacket carries the printed price. Issued as a hardcover.
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. The US Doubleday hardcover (2007) is the true first edition; the novel won the 2008 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions lack the 'First Edition' statement and number line, are slightly smaller, and have a jacket with no printed price.
I have a first edition of The Great Man — 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.