# Is "The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge" by David McCullough a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge by David McCullough (Simon & Schuster, 1972) is identified by: First edition, first printing, Simon & Schuster, 1972, with 'First printing' stated on the copyright page. US true first (Simon & Schuster, 1972).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition, first printing, Simon & Schuster, 1972, with 'First printing' stated on the copyright page
- Octavo, bound in blue cloth with copper lettering to the front board and spine; pictorial endpapers and pastedowns
- Dust jacket bears the original printed price on the front flap with no later-printing statement; the printed price should be present
- Publisher imprint reads Simon & Schuster
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | David McCullough |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
| Year | 1972 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition, first printing, Simon & Schuster, 1972, with 'First printing' stated on the copyright page |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition, first printing, Simon & Schuster, 1972, with 'First printing' stated on the copyright page. Octavo, bound in blue cloth with copper lettering to the front board and spine; pictorial endpapers and pastedowns. Dust jacket bears the original printed price on the front flap with no later-printing statement; the printed price should be present.

## Is this the true first?
US true first (Simon & Schuster, 1972).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-of-the-Month Club editions exist and are typically identified by the absence of 'First printing' on the copyright page, a blind-stamp to the rear board, and a jacket with no printed price on the flap.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge* by David McCullough a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-great-bridge-the-epic-story-of-the-building-of-the-brook
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.