# Is "The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (Warner Books, 1996) is identified by: Warner Books, 1996, Sparks's debut novel. The US Warner Books first printing is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Warner Books, 1996, Sparks's debut novel
- The true first printing states 'First Printing: October 1996' on the copyright page with a full descending number line
- First-state dust jacket carries the printed retail price on the front flap
- Octavo, cream boards with gray cloth spine, 214 pages
- Scarce in fine first printing, especially signed
- Publisher imprint reads Warner Books
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Nicholas Sparks |
| Publisher | Warner Books |
| Year | 1996 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Warner Books, 1996, Sparks's debut novel |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Warner Books, 1996, Sparks's debut novel. The true first printing states 'First Printing: October 1996' on the copyright page with a full descending number line. First-state dust jacket carries the printed retail price on the front flap. Octavo, cream boards with gray cloth spine, 214 pages. Scarce in fine first printing, especially signed.

## Is this the true first?
The US Warner Books first printing is the true first. The 2004 film drove demand; confirm the 'First Printing: October 1996' statement and the priced first-state jacket.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Warner printings break the number line. Book-club copies (no price on the jacket, blind stamp on the rear board) are not the true first. The first printing carries the October 1996 statement and a priced jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Notebook* by Nicholas Sparks a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-notebook
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.