The points of issue
First printing is identified by 'First Edition, 1988' stated on the copyright page (the primary point for this title). The dust jacket front flap carries the original printed price. Franzen's debut novel.
Is this the true first?
The US Farrar, Straus and Giroux hardcover is the true first; the British edition follows. Scarce as a debut.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition issue identified affecting the true first; later reissues are Farrar and Picador paperbacks.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Twenty-Seventh City a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing is identified by 'First Edition, 1988' stated on the copyright page (the primary point for this title). The dust jacket front flap carries the original printed price. Franzen's debut novel.
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 Farrar, Straus and Giroux hardcover is the true first; the British edition follows. Scarce as a debut.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition issue identified affecting the true first; later reissues are Farrar and Picador paperbacks.
I have a first edition of The Twenty-Seventh City — 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.