# Is "A Bad Man" by Stanley Elkin a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of A Bad Man by Stanley Elkin (Random House, 1967) is identified by: Random House first printing states First Edition / First Printing on the copyright page (pre-1970 Random House style, no number line on this title); first-issue jacket with the original price on the front flap. The US Random House edition is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Random House first printing states First Edition / First Printing on the copyright page (pre-1970 Random House style, no number line on this title); first-issue jacket with the original price on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Stanley Elkin |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1967 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Random House first printing states First Edition / First Printing on the copyright page (pre-1970 Random House style, no number line on… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Random House first printing states First Edition / First Printing on the copyright page (pre-1970 Random House style, no number line on this title); first-issue jacket with the original price on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
The US Random House edition is the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The stated first printing is present on the true first; club editions lack the flap price and carry a Book Club Edition notice.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *A Bad Man* by Stanley Elkin a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/a-bad-man
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.