# Is "A Morning for Flamingos" by James Lee Burke a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of A Morning for Flamingos by James Lee Burke (Little, Brown, 1990) is identified by: The copyright page states 'First Edition' together with a full number line descending to 1. US Little, Brown edition, published October 29, 1990, is the true first; fourth Dave Robicheaux novel.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The copyright page states 'First Edition' together with a full number line descending to 1
- Bound in cloth over boards with the spine lettered in silver gilt, and issued in a priced dust jacket with the printed price on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Little, Brown
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | James Lee Burke |
| Publisher | Little, Brown |
| Year | 1990 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The copyright page states 'First Edition' together with a full number line descending to 1 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
The copyright page states 'First Edition' together with a full number line descending to 1. Bound in cloth over boards with the spine lettered in silver gilt, and issued in a priced dust jacket with the printed price on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
US Little, Brown edition, published October 29, 1990, is the true first; fourth Dave Robicheaux novel. US precedes the UK edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions typically lack the stated 'First Edition' line and number line, carry a rear-board blindstamp, and come in an unpriced jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *A Morning for Flamingos* by James Lee Burke a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/a-morning-for-flamingos
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.