# Is "Willful Creatures" by Aimee Bender a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Willful Creatures by Aimee Bender (Doubleday, 2005) is identified by: Doubleday copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with a full number line descending to 1; Doubleday anchor colophon. US Doubleday hardcover (2005) is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Doubleday copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with a full number line descending to 1
- Doubleday anchor colophon
- Bender's second story collection (ISBN 0-385-50113-7)
- A true first carries the unclipped flap price
- Publisher imprint reads Doubleday
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Aimee Bender |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
| Year | 2005 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Doubleday copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with a full number line descending to 1 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Doubleday copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with a full number line descending to 1; Doubleday anchor colophon. Bender's second story collection (ISBN 0-385-50113-7). A true first carries the unclipped flap price.

## Is this the true first?
US Doubleday hardcover (2005) is the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies lack the number line and the flap price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Willful Creatures* by Aimee Bender a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/willful-creatures
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.