The points of issue
Random House hardcover, 2005 (ISBN 0375506713). First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with the post-2002 Random House number line (the descending line that ends in 1), and the dust jacket carries the printed price.
Is this the true first?
The US Random House hardcover (2005) is the true first. It won the 2006 PEN/Faulkner Award (Doctorow's second, after Billy Bathgate) and the 2005 National Book Critics Circle Award.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition lacks the stated first-edition line, is typically smaller, often has a blind-stamp on the rear board, and has an unpriced dust jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The March a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Random House hardcover, 2005 (ISBN 0375506713). First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with the post-2002 Random House number line (the descending line that ends in 1), and the dust 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. The US Random House hardcover (2005) is the true first. It won the 2006 PEN/Faulkner Award (Doctorow's second, after Billy Bathgate) and the 2005 National Book Critics Circle Award.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book-club edition lacks the stated first-edition line, is typically smaller, often has a blind-stamp on the rear board, and has an unpriced dust jacket.
I have a first edition of The March — 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.