# Is "A Moon for the Misbegotten" by Eugene O'Neill a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of A Moon for the Misbegotten by Eugene O'Neill (Random House, 1952) is identified by: Random House, New York, 1952. The US Random House 1952 edition is the true first; notably O'Neill allowed publication ahead of the stage production.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Random House, New York, 1952
- First edition in cloth with dust jacket; copyright page shows a 1945 unpublished copyright and the 1952 published copyright
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Eugene O'Neill |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1952 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Random House, New York, 1952 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Random House, New York, 1952. First edition in cloth with dust jacket; copyright page shows a 1945 unpublished copyright and the 1952 published copyright.

## Is this the true first?
The US Random House 1952 edition is the true first; notably O'Neill allowed publication ahead of the stage production.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later book-club printings are distinguishable by their thinner paper, blind-stamped rear board, and absence of a jacket price; confirm the Random House imprint and 1952 copyright.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *A Moon for the Misbegotten* by Eugene O'Neill a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/a-moon-for-the-misbegotten
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.