# Is "The Night Watchman" by Louise Erdrich a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich (Harper / HarperCollins, 2020) is identified by: Harper (HarperCollins) first printing has 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page with a full number line ending in 1 (an 'LSC' printer code appears in the line). The US Harper/HarperCollins 2020 hardcover is the true first edition; 'FIRST EDITION' plus a number line ending in 1 confirms a first printing.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Harper (HarperCollins) first printing has 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page with a full number line ending in 1 (an 'LSC' printer code appears in the line)
- The first-issue jacket carries the printed price and, importantly, does NOT mention the Pulitzer Prize; jackets noting the Pulitzer are later printings
- The number line ending in 1 plus a Pulitzer-free jacket are the decisive points
- Publisher imprint reads Harper / HarperCollins
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Louise Erdrich |
| Publisher | Harper / HarperCollins |
| Year | 2020 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Harper (HarperCollins) first printing has 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page with a full number line ending in 1 (an 'LSC'… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Harper (HarperCollins) first printing has 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page with a full number line ending in 1 (an 'LSC' printer code appears in the line). The first-issue jacket carries the printed price and, importantly, does NOT mention the Pulitzer Prize; jackets noting the Pulitzer are later printings. The number line ending in 1 plus a Pulitzer-free jacket are the decisive points.

## Is this the true first?
The US Harper/HarperCollins 2020 hardcover is the true first edition; 'FIRST EDITION' plus a number line ending in 1 confirms a first printing.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line and may add Pulitzer Prize wording to the jacket; book-club copies show a rear-board blind-stamp.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Night Watchman* by Louise Erdrich a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-night-watchman
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.