First Edition Points and Criteria for The Da Vinci Code

Year Published: 2003
Author Last Name: Brown
Author First Name: Dan
Publisher: Doubleday
Original Price: $24.95
Pages: 454

First Edition is stated with the number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on the copyright page. The dust jacket carries a price of $24.95. A comparison of two first printing dust jackets with several later printing jackets suggests that the first printing jacket flaps have a color that is slightly more gold than later printing flaps, which have more of a silver tone. Boards are black with black cloth spine.

Note: The book club edition also states First Edition and has the same number line as the true first edition. But the book club edition is one inch shorter (8.5 inches versus 9.5 inches) than the true first edition, and the dust jacket has no price.

Also note that there is a common misperception that certain first editions have particular typos and misspellings. While there were indeed some errors, they exist in all first printings and remained uncorrected throughout the entire first printing run. These same errors can also be found in subsequent printings through at least the sixth printing. And because these errors are found on all first editions, they are not considered first edition points.


Picture of the 2003 first edition dust jacket for The Da Vinci Code.


Picture of the first edition copyright page for The Da Vinci Code.


Picture of dust jacket where original $24.95 price is found for The Da Vinci Code.


Picture of the back dust jacket for the first edition of The Da Vinci Code.


Picture of the first edition Doubleday boards for The Da Vinci Code.


Picture of the back dust jacket flap for the first edition of The Da Vinci Code.


Picture of the first edition title page for The Da Vinci Code.


The first edition Da Vinci Code dust jacket has a golden tone on the flaps that is most noticeable when compared against a later printing jacket. The later printing jacket is beneath the first printing jacket in this photo.


The book club edition (on the right) has the same dust jacket front as the true first edition, but it is smaller.


The book club edition (on the right) has a single bar code and no price information. The true first edition dust jacket is on the left.


The book club edition is bound with cheap paper boards. The true first has a cloth spine.

Other first edition points for books by Dan Brown include: Digital Fortress.