Is My Hardcover Blood Meridian a First Edition? How to Tell
You have a hardcover copy of Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West, and you want to know if it’s a genuine first edition, first printing. This guide walks you through every identification point — the copyright page, binding, dust jacket, and common misidentifications — so you can determine exactly what you have.
The Quick Answer
A true first edition, first printing of Blood Meridian was published by Random House in 1985 with a cover price of $16.95. To confirm yours is a first printing, check the copyright page for the complete number line reading down to “2” (or a stated “First Edition”). The key identifier is the number line — if the lowest number is “2” or higher, you have a later printing.
Step-by-Step Identification
Step 1: Check the Publisher
The book must be published by Random House, New York. If your copy says Ecco, Vintage, Modern Library, or any other publisher on the title page, it is a later edition, not the first.
Step 2: Check the Copyright Page
Turn to the copyright page (typically the reverse of the title page). Look for:
“First Edition” statement. Random House stated “First Edition” on the copyright page of first printings during this period.
The number line. Random House used a number line that includes the numbers 2 through 9 (or similar). On a true first printing, the full sequence is present, with “2” as the lowest number. If the lowest number is “3,” you have a second printing; if “4,” a third printing; and so on.
Copyright date: 1985. The copyright should read “Copyright © 1985 by Cormac McCarthy.”
Step 3: Check the Binding
The first printing binding is:
- Tan/beige cloth over boards
- Spine lettered in gilt (gold) with “MCCARTHY” and “BLOOD MERIDIAN” and “RANDOM HOUSE”
- The cloth color is a warm tan — later printings sometimes have slightly different cloth tones
Step 4: Check the Dust Jacket
The first printing dust jacket features:
- A painting of a desert landscape with riders, in dark reds, oranges, and browns
- $16.95 price on the front flap (USD)
- The rear panel features author biography and reviews of McCarthy’s previous novels
- The jacket is uncoated — it has a slightly matte, papery feel rather than a glossy laminate
Step 5: Rule Out a Book Club Edition
Random House books from this era have corresponding Book Club Edition (BCE) copies that look nearly identical. BCEs are identified by:
- No price on the dust jacket flap (the most reliable indicator)
- A small blind-stamped indent (a square or dot) on the lower right corner of the rear board
- Thinner, lighter paper — BCEs weigh noticeably less than trade editions
- No number line on the copyright page, or a different number line format
If your copy lacks a flap price and has a blind stamp on the rear board, it is a book club edition — worth $20–$50 in good condition, not the four- or five-figure value of a true first printing.
What Is My Copy Worth?
True First Edition, First Printing
| Condition | Without Dust Jacket | With Dust Jacket |
|---|---|---|
| Fine/Fine | N/A | $15,000–$40,000 |
| Near Fine/Near Fine | $2,000–$4,000 | $8,000–$20,000 |
| Very Good/Very Good | $1,000–$2,500 | $5,000–$12,000 |
| Good/Good | $500–$1,000 | $2,000–$6,000 |
Signed First Edition, First Printing
McCarthy was a notoriously reluctant signer. Genuine signed copies are rare and command significant premiums:
| Condition | Value |
|---|---|
| Signed, Fine/Fine | $40,000–$100,000+ |
| Signed, Near Fine/Near Fine | $25,000–$60,000 |
| Inscribed to a named individual | Premium of 50–200% over flat-signed |
Later Printings
Later printings (second through tenth) have modest collector value: $50–$200 depending on condition and printing number. Lower printing numbers are more desirable.
Book Club Edition
$20–$50 in good condition. Minimal collector value.
Common Questions
Why is Blood Meridian so valuable?
Blood Meridian had a modest first printing — estimated at 5,000–7,500 copies — because McCarthy was not yet a commercially successful author in 1985. The novel received mixed reviews initially and sold slowly. Its reputation grew dramatically in the 1990s and 2000s as critics increasingly recognized it as McCarthy’s masterpiece and one of the greatest American novels of the twentieth century. The combination of a small first printing, growing canonical status, and McCarthy’s death in 2023 has driven values sharply upward.
My copy has “First Edition” stated but the number line starts at 3. What does that mean?
This is a later printing. Random House sometimes left the “First Edition” statement on the copyright page even after reprinting (an error in their production process). The number line is the definitive indicator — if it starts at 3, you have a second printing regardless of what the “First Edition” statement says. Second and third printings are worth $200–$500 with jacket.
Is the UK first edition valuable?
The UK first edition was published by Picador in 1989 — four years after the US first. While it has collector value ($200–$800 depending on condition), it is not the true first edition and is worth a fraction of the US Random House first.
How do I get my copy authenticated if it’s signed?
For a potentially signed Blood Meridian first edition, professional authentication is essential. McCarthy’s signature is heavily forged — one estimate suggests 30–40% of “signed McCarthy” items in the open market are forgeries. Recommended authentication paths:
- Specialist dealer evaluation — dealers like Between the Covers, Heritage Auctions, or Peter Harrington can authenticate on sight
- Third-party authentication services — PSA/DNA and JSA both authenticate McCarthy signatures
- For items over $10,000 — dual authentication from two independent sources is standard practice
The cost of authentication ($50–$200) is trivial relative to the value difference between a genuine signed copy and a forgery.