# Is "Unnatural History" by Jonathan Kellerman a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Unnatural History by Jonathan Kellerman (Ballantine, 2023) is identified by: First edition stated as 'First Edition' on the copyright page, accompanied by a full number line descending to 1 (the complete line ending in the numeral 1 marks the first printing; a line missing the 1 indicates a later printing). US Ballantine hardcover is the true first; thirty-eighth Alex Delaware novel, published February 2023.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition stated as 'First Edition' on the copyright page, accompanied by a full number line descending to 1 (the complete line ending in the numeral 1 marks the first printing; a line missing the 1 indicates a later printing)
- Ballantine (Random House) hardcover in a price-carrying dust jacket, the printed retail price present on the front flap of an unclipped example
- Publisher imprint reads Ballantine
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Jonathan Kellerman |
| Publisher | Ballantine |
| Year | 2023 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition stated as 'First Edition' on the copyright page, accompanied by a full… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition stated as 'First Edition' on the copyright page, accompanied by a full number line descending to 1 (the complete line ending in the numeral 1 marks the first printing; a line missing the 1 indicates a later printing). Ballantine (Random House) hardcover in a price-carrying dust jacket, the printed retail price present on the front flap of an unclipped example.

## Is this the true first?
US Ballantine hardcover is the true first; thirty-eighth Alex Delaware novel, published February 2023.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book-club edition issue for the first printing.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Unnatural History* by Jonathan Kellerman a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/unnatural-history
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.