Identifying a True First of Jimmy Corrigan

Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth has been published in multiple editions across multiple countries, creating identification challenges for collectors. This guide details the key markers for the true first American edition.

The True First: Pantheon Hardcover (2000)

Publisher: Pantheon Books (a Knopf/Random House imprint) Format: Hardcover with dust jacket ISBN: 0-375-40453-7 Number line: Full number line ending in “1” on copyright page (e.g., “10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1”) Design: Entirely designed by Ware — distinctive orange-dominated dust jacket, custom endpapers, printed boards under jacket

Distinguishing from Later Printings

Subsequent Pantheon printings lack the “1” at the end of the number line. Content is identical; the distinction is purely bibliographic. Later printings may also show slight color variations in the jacket printing.

International Editions

The UK edition (Jonathan Cape) and various translations are not true firsts bibliographically. The serialization in The Acme Novelty Library constitutes the original publication of the material, but the Pantheon hardcover is the standard first “book” edition for collectors.

Condition Points

The dust jacket is susceptible to edge wear and sunning. The oversized format makes shelf wear common. Fine copies with clean, unfaded jackets command significant premiums over copies with typical handling wear.