# Is "A Shooting Star" by Wallace Stegner a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of A Shooting Star by Wallace Stegner (Viking Press, 1961) is identified by: First edition identified by the copyright-page statement 'Published in 1961 by The Viking Press' with no later-printing line; no number line was used. True first US edition of the novel.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition identified by the copyright-page statement 'Published in 1961 by The Viking Press' with no later-printing line; no number line was used
- Approximately 433 pages; quarter black cloth over decorated blue paper boards, gilt spine lettering, blue top stain, in the original dust jacket
- The novel derives from Stegner's earlier working title 'Sabrina.'
- Publisher imprint reads Viking Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Wallace Stegner |
| Publisher | Viking Press |
| Year | 1961 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition identified by the copyright-page statement 'Published in 1961 by The Viking… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
First edition identified by the copyright-page statement 'Published in 1961 by The Viking Press' with no later-printing line; no number line was used. Approximately 433 pages; quarter black cloth over decorated blue paper boards, gilt spine lettering, blue top stain, in the original dust jacket. The novel derives from Stegner's earlier working title 'Sabrina.'

## Is this the true first?
True first US edition of the novel.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Viking reprinted this title before publication; a first-issue jacket at the correct price accompanies genuine first-printing copies, and later printings add a printing statement to the copyright page.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *A Shooting Star* by Wallace Stegner a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/a-shooting-star
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.