# Is "Cakewalk" by Lee Smith a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Cakewalk by Lee Smith (G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1981) is identified by: Putnam first-printing convention of the period (1960 to 1988): the copyright page bears NO later-printing statement, while reprints add 'second impression,' etc. The US G.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Putnam first-printing convention of the period (1960 to 1988): the copyright page bears NO later-printing statement, while reprints add 'second impression,' etc
- No number line on a 1981 Putnam first
- First issue is quarterbound in cream paper over boards with a green cloth spine and gilt lettering, in a first-issue jacket priced on the front flap
- Her first short-story collection
- Publisher imprint reads G. P. Putnam's Sons
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Lee Smith |
| Publisher | G. P. Putnam's Sons |
| Year | 1981 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Putnam first-printing convention of the period (1960 to 1988): the copyright page bears NO later-printing statement, while reprints add… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Putnam first-printing convention of the period (1960 to 1988): the copyright page bears NO later-printing statement, while reprints add 'second impression,' etc. No number line on a 1981 Putnam first. First issue is quarterbound in cream paper over boards with a green cloth spine and gilt lettering, in a first-issue jacket priced on the front flap. Her first short-story collection.

## Is this the true first?
The US G. P. Putnam's Sons edition is the true first; first appearance in book form for these stories.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book-club edition is documented for this title; identify the trade first by the absence of any later-impression statement.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Cakewalk* by Lee Smith a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/cakewalk
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.