John Barth First Editions

• The Floating Opera — 1956 · Appleton-Century-CroftsFirst printing in publisher's cloth with dust jacket; the printed jacket price on the first issue is 3.95 (the record's 3.75 was incorrect). This 1956 text is the altered version Barth made at the publisher's request, with the ending changed to a less nihilistic close; Barth's preferred text was restored only in the 1967 Doubleday revised edition. True first is the 1956 Appleton-Century-Crofts edition, Barth's debut novel. The 1967 Doubleday edition is a revised, restored first thus and is far more common; the 1956 first is genuinely scarce. No book-club edition of the 1956 issue is documented. Later Doubleday and Bantam appearances are reprints or the revised text.
• The End of the Road — 1958 · Doubleday'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the 1958 copyright date; publisher's dark blue cloth over boards, lettered and decorated in gilt on the spine. Approximately 3,500 copies printed. Original unrevised text. First-issue dust jacket designed by Robert Watson; the record's earlier price figure was incorrect, and the jacket should retain its printed price and be unclipped. True first 1958 Doubleday. A revised text issued by Doubleday in 1967 is a first thus. UK first: Secker & Warburg, 1962. Book-club editions lack the printed jacket price and the first-edition statement, are smaller and lighter than the trade issue, and often show a blind-stamped indent on the rear board.
• The Sot-Weed Factor — 1960 · Doubleday'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; thick octavo quarter-bound in yellow cloth over blue boards; first-state dust jacket designed by Edward Gorey with the printed price 7.50 (the record's 6.95 was incorrect). Original longer text, later revised and abridged for the 1967 edition. True first 1960 Doubleday. The 1967 revised text from Doubleday is a first thus. UK: Secker & Warburg, 1961. A book-club edition exists; identify it by the blind-stamp on the rear board, an unpriced jacket, lighter weight, and the absence of the 'First Edition' statement.
• Giles Goat-Boy — 1966 · DoubledayFull title 'Giles Goat-Boy: Or, The Revised New Syllabus.' The first trade printing does NOT carry a 'First Edition' statement (the record's claim that it is stated is incorrect); Doubleday departed from its usual convention, and the first printing is identified by the gutter code (reported as H18 or H32) on the final text page. Publisher's cloth; first-issue jacket carries the printed price 6.95 at the top of…. A signed, numbered limited edition (Doubleday, 250 copies, issued in a slipcase without a dust jacket) preceded the trade issue and is the most desirable state. UK: Secker & Warburg, 1967. A large book-club printing exists. Because the true first trade issue also lacks a 'First Edition' line, do NOT use that absence to identify a book club; instead distinguish the trade first by the gutter code and priced jacket, versus the lighter, blind-stamped, unpriced book-club copies.
• Lost in the Funhouse — 1968 · Doubleday'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; subtitle 'Fiction for Print, Tape, Live Voice' (approx. 201 pp.). Black cloth with gilt spine lettering and a deckled fore-edge; jacket designed by George Giusti with its printed price present on the flap. True first 1968 Doubleday. A signed, numbered limited edition of 250 copies was issued the same year, housed in a slipcase and without a dust jacket; no priority is established between the trade and limited issues. UK: Secker & Warburg, 1969. Story collection. Book-club editions are identified by a blind-stamp on the rear board, lighter weight, and an unpriced jacket; the stated 'First Edition' line distinguishes the trade first.
• Chimera — 1972 · Random HouseFirst printing carries the Random House number line whose lowest surviving digit is the figure 2 (Random House removed numbers as printings advanced, so a true first retains the 2). The dust jacket is priced on the front flap and is not price-clipped. Won the 1973 National Book Award for fiction. True first is the 1972 Random House edition, New York. UK first followed from Andre Deutsch, 1974. A Book-of-the-Month Club edition exists, identified by a blind-stamp dot to the rear board and an unpriced jacket flap; some club jackets read Book Club Edition.
• LETTERS — 1979 · G. P. Putnam's SonsFirst printing has the Putnam first-edition statement on the copyright page. The unclipped trade-edition dust jacket flap carries the original published price (verified copies show the original figure intact); priced jackets distinguish the trade first from club issues. True first is the 1979 G. P. Putnam's Sons edition, New York. UK first followed from Secker & Warburg, 1980. A signed, numbered limited issue of the novel (500 copies, signed on a limitation leaf) was also produced. Book club issue has a blind-stamp to the rear board and an unpriced jacket.
• Sabbatical: A Romance — 1982 · G. P. Putnam's SonsFirst printing has the Putnam first-edition statement on the copyright page. Issued in three-quarter cloth with a priced, unclipped dust jacket. A signed, numbered limited edition with slipcase was also published. True first is the 1982 G. P. Putnam's Sons edition, New York. UK first followed from Secker & Warburg, 1982. Book club issue is blind-stamped to the rear board with an unpriced jacket.
• The Friday Book: Essays and Other Nonfiction — 1984 · G. P. Putnam's SonsFirst printing carries the G. P. Putnam's Sons first-edition statement on the copyright page. The book is bound in blue paper-covered boards backed with burgundy cloth, with silver-gilt lettering on the spine, and collates roughly xx plus 281 pages. The first-issue dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap along with the code 8410 at the base of the front flap; the printed price should be present,…. True first is the 1984 G. P. Putnam's Sons edition, New York (publication dated October 26, 1984). No earlier edition precedes it. No significant book club issue is recorded for this title.
• The Tidewater Tales: A Novel — 1987 · G. P. Putnam's SonsFirst printing carries the Putnam first-edition statement on the copyright page together with the complete number line, in a substantial volume of roughly 655 pages, large octavo, bound in mulberry cloth-backed boards. The first-issue dust jacket is priced on the front flap (present, not clipped). True first is the 1987 G. P. Putnam's Sons edition, New York (ISBN 0-399-13247-3). The UK first followed from Methuen, 1988. The book-club issue is the later state: blind-stamped (small blind-embossed mark) to the rear board, printed on lighter bulk, with an unpriced jacket lacking the flap price of the trade first.
• The Last Voyage of Somebody the Sailor — 1991 · Little, Brown and CompanyFirst printing carries the Little, Brown first-edition statement together with a complete number line descending to 1 on the copyright page; ISBN 0316082511 (9780316082518), a substantial hardcover of roughly 573 pages. The first-issue dust jacket is priced and should be present unclipped, the printed price appearing at the top of the front flap. True first is the 1991 Little, Brown and Company edition, Boston. No major book club issue is recorded for this title; confirm the first printing by the first-edition statement plus the full number line reaching 1.
• Once Upon a Time: A Floating Opera — 1994 · Little, BrownFirst U.S. edition published 1994 by Little, Brown (ISBN 0316082627). The first printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line; the dust jacket carries the original price on the front flap. A memoir-and-novel hybrid. True first is the 1994 Little, Brown U.S. edition. Confirmed against dealer descriptions of first/first copies. No book-club issue is a recognized first-edition pitfall for this title.
• On with the Story — 1996 · Little, BrownFirst U.S. edition published 1996 by Little, Brown (ISBN 0316082635). First printing states 'First Edition' with a complete number line on the copyright page; dust jacket carries the original price. A story collection (framed as tales exchanged by a vacationing couple). True first is the 1996 Little, Brown U.S. edition. Confirmed against dealer listings. No book-club issue is a recognized first-edition pitfall for this title.
• Coming Soon!!!: A Narrative — 2001 · Houghton MifflinFirst U.S. edition published 2001 by Houghton Mifflin (ISBN 0618131655). Per Houghton Mifflin's standard convention of this era, the first printing carries a copyright-page number line descending to 1; the dust jacket carries the original price. Dealers describe first/first copies consistent with this. True first is the 2001 Houghton Mifflin U.S. edition. Verified against AbeBooks first/first listings. No book-club issue is a recognized first-edition pitfall for this title.
• The Book of Ten Nights and a Night: Eleven Stories — 2004 · Houghton MifflinFirst U.S. edition published 2004 by Houghton Mifflin (ISBN 0618405666). First printing carries a copyright-page number line descending to 1 per Houghton Mifflin convention; the dust jacket carries the original price. A story collection. True first is the 2004 Houghton Mifflin U.S. edition. Verified against dealer and library records. No book-club issue is a recognized first-edition pitfall for this title.
• Where Three Roads Meet: Novellas — 2005 · Houghton MifflinFirst U.S. edition published 2005 by Houghton Mifflin (ISBN 0618610162). First printing carries a copyright-page number line descending to 1 per Houghton Mifflin convention; the dust jacket carries the original price. Three metafictional novellas. True first is the 2005 Houghton Mifflin U.S. edition. Verified against dealer listings and reference records. No book-club issue is a recognized first-edition pitfall for this title.
• The Development: Nine Stories — 2008 · Houghton Mifflin HarcourtFirst U.S. edition published 2008 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (ISBN 0547072481). First printing carries a copyright-page number line descending to 1 per the publisher's convention; the dust jacket carries the original price. Nine interrelated stories set in a Maryland gated community. True first is the 2008 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt U.S. edition. Verified against dealer and library records. No book-club issue is a recognized first-edition pitfall for this title. Some dealers cite the colophon as 'Houghton Mifflin Company'; the 2008 imprint name is Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
• Every Third Thought: A Novel in Five Seasons — 2011 · CounterpointCounterpoint, 2011 (published October 11, 2011), 208 pages, ISBN 9781582437552. First printing identified by the 'First Edition' statement together with a descending printer's key ending in 1 on the copyright page; issued in trade cloth with a priced first-issue dust jacket. True first is the 2011 Counterpoint hardcover; there is no earlier or competing first edition. None notable.

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