# Is "Acceptable Losses" by Irwin Shaw a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Acceptable Losses by Irwin Shaw (Arbor House, 1982) is identified by: First edition, first printing identified by the publisher's number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 descending to 1 on the copyright page (ISBN 0-87795-437-2). The US Arbor House edition is the true first; a UK New English Library edition also appeared in 1982 and follows the American printing.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition, first printing identified by the publisher's number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 descending to 1 on the copyright page (ISBN 0-87795-437-2)
- An octavo of 303 pages issued in dust jacket
- Shaw's last novel
- Publisher imprint reads Arbor House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Irwin Shaw |
| Publisher | Arbor House |
| Year | 1982 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition, first printing identified by the publisher's number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 descending to 1 on the copyright page (ISBN… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition, first printing identified by the publisher's number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 descending to 1 on the copyright page (ISBN 0-87795-437-2). An octavo of 303 pages issued in dust jacket. Shaw's last novel.

## Is this the true first?
The US Arbor House edition is the true first; a UK New English Library edition also appeared in 1982 and follows the American printing.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions exist, are typically thinner and lighter in the board, and lack the printed number line on the copyright page.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Acceptable Losses* by Irwin Shaw a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/acceptable-losses
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.