# Is "The System of the World" by Neal Stephenson a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The System of the World by Neal Stephenson (William Morrow, 2004) is identified by: US William Morrow hardcover, 2004, with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page beneath a full number line descending to 1. The US Morrow hardcover, published in early October 2004, is the true first; the UK William Heinemann edition (ISBN 0434011770) followed within days (October 2004).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- US William Morrow hardcover, 2004, with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page beneath a full number line descending to 1
- Volume three of The Baroque Cycle; issued in publisher's boards with a dust jacket that should retain its printed price on the flap
- Publisher imprint reads William Morrow
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Neal Stephenson |
| Publisher | William Morrow |
| Year | 2004 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | US William Morrow hardcover, 2004, with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page beneath a full number line descending to 1 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
US William Morrow hardcover, 2004, with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page beneath a full number line descending to 1. Volume three of The Baroque Cycle; issued in publisher's boards with a dust jacket that should retain its printed price on the flap.

## Is this the true first?
The US Morrow hardcover, published in early October 2004, is the true first; the UK William Heinemann edition (ISBN 0434011770) followed within days (October 2004).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Trade only; no book-club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The System of the World* by Neal Stephenson a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-system-of-the-world
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.