# Is "The Underground Man" by Ross Macdonald a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Underground Man by Ross Macdonald (Alfred A. Knopf, 1971) is identified by: 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page. US Knopf (1971) is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page
- Published January 1971
- Orange paper boards backed in black cloth, gilt spine lettering, blind-stamped 'RM' monogram to the front cover, top edge stained blue, deckled fore-edge
- First-issue jacket carries the printed price
- The book that returned Macdonald to wide critical attention (front-page New York Times Book Review)
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ross Macdonald |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 1971 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page. Published January 1971. Orange paper boards backed in black cloth, gilt spine lettering, blind-stamped 'RM' monogram to the front cover, top edge stained blue, deckled fore-edge. First-issue jacket carries the printed price. The book that returned Macdonald to wide critical attention (front-page New York Times Book Review).

## Is this the true first?
US Knopf (1971) is the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A Book-of-the-Month / club edition is common: blind-stamp to the rear board, no price on the jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Underground Man* by Ross Macdonald a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-underground-man
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.