# Is "A Painted House" by John Grisham a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of A Painted House by John Grisham (Doubleday, 2001) is identified by: The copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries the publisher's full number line for the first printing; both the words and the complete number line must be present. The US Doubleday trade edition is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries the publisher's full number line for the first printing; both the words and the complete number line must be present
- Issued February 6, 2001, in brown cloth over brown boards with gilt spine lettering, in a pictorial dust jacket that must retain its printed price on the front flap
- Grisham's first novel outside the legal-thriller genre
- Publisher imprint reads Doubleday
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John Grisham |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
| Year | 2001 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries the publisher's full number line for the first printing; both the words and the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
The copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries the publisher's full number line for the first printing; both the words and the complete number line must be present. Issued February 6, 2001, in brown cloth over brown boards with gilt spine lettering, in a pictorial dust jacket that must retain its printed price on the front flap. Grisham's first novel outside the legal-thriller genre.

## Is this the true first?
The US Doubleday trade edition is the true first. A signed, numbered limited edition was also issued and is a distinct issue rather than a later printing.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions omit the 'First Edition' statement and number line, are printed on lighter bulked paper, and typically bear a small blindstamp (dot or maple-leaf) on the rear board.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *A Painted House* by John Grisham a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/a-painted-house
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.