# Is "Black Cherry Blues" by James Lee Burke a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Black Cherry Blues by James Lee Burke (Little, Brown, 1989) is identified by: First edition, first printing stated on the copyright page with a complete number line down to 1. The US Little, Brown edition (1989) is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition, first printing stated on the copyright page with a complete number line down to 1
- First-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap and was designed by Wendell Minor
- Third Dave Robicheaux novel; winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel
- Publisher imprint reads Little, Brown
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | James Lee Burke |
| Publisher | Little, Brown |
| Year | 1989 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition, first printing stated on the copyright page with a complete number line down to 1 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition, first printing stated on the copyright page with a complete number line down to 1. First-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap and was designed by Wendell Minor. Third Dave Robicheaux novel; winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel (1990).

## Is this the true first?
The US Little, Brown edition (1989) is the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club edition is common: blind-stamp to the rear board, no price, thinner bulk. Note that trade-first copies frequently carry a remainder mark to the bottom edge.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Black Cherry Blues* by James Lee Burke a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/black-cherry-blues
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.