# Is "Truman" by David McCullough a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Truman by David McCullough (Simon & Schuster, 1992) is identified by: Light blue boards backed in navy cloth with silver spine lettering. US Simon & Schuster (New York) true first, 1992.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Light blue boards backed in navy cloth with silver spine lettering
- Copyright page carries a full number line reading down to 1
- First-state dust jacket designed by Wendell Minor with the price intact on the front flap
- Illustrated; roughly 1100 pages
- Publisher imprint reads Simon & Schuster
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | David McCullough |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
| Year | 1992 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Light blue boards backed in navy cloth with silver spine lettering |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Light blue boards backed in navy cloth with silver spine lettering. Copyright page carries a full number line reading down to 1. First-state dust jacket designed by Wendell Minor with the price intact on the front flap. Illustrated; roughly 1100 pages.

## Is this the true first?
US Simon & Schuster (New York) true first, 1992. Won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1993.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issue is smaller, unpriced, and bears a blind-stamp to the rear board; it lacks the full number line.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Truman* by David McCullough a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/truman
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.