The points of issue
Cloth; Oxford History of the United States volume; full number line down to 1 on the copyright page; first-state dust jacket priced and not clipped.
Is this the true first?
US Oxford University Press (New York) is the true first (ISBN 0-19-507894-X). Won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 2008.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings break the number line (the 1 drops off); no notable club issue for this academic-trade title.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848 a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Cloth; Oxford History of the United States volume; full number line down to 1 on the copyright page; first-state dust jacket priced and not clipped.
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. US Oxford University Press (New York) is the true first (ISBN 0-19-507894-X). Won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 2008.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings break the number line (the 1 drops off); no notable club issue for this academic-trade title.
I have a first edition of What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848 — 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.