The points of issue
First printing has 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page together with a complete HarperCollins number line ending in 1. Amistad imprint; quarter cloth over yellow boards with orange spine lettering; the dust jacket front flap carries the original printed price. ISBN 0-06-055754-0.
Is this the true first?
The US Amistad/HarperCollins hardcover (2003) is the true first; it won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award and was a National Book Award finalist. The true first sold through quickly; later printings add award mentions to the jacket.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The book-club edition lacks the full number line, is smaller, has a blind-stamped rear board and an unpriced jacket; Easton Press is a much later reprint. Look for the complete number line ending in 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Known World a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page together with a complete HarperCollins number line ending in 1. Amistad imprint; quarter cloth over yellow boards with orange spine lettering; the dust jacket front flap carries the original printed price. ISBN 0-06-055754-0.
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 Amistad/HarperCollins hardcover (2003) is the true first; it won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award and was a National Book Award finalist. The true first sold through quickly; later printings add award mentions to the jacket.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The book-club edition lacks the full number line, is smaller, has a blind-stamped rear board and an unpriced jacket; Easton Press is a much later reprint. Look for the complete number line ending in 1.
I have a first edition of The Known World — 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.