# Is "Captains Outrageous" by Joe R. Lansdale a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Captains Outrageous by Joe R. Lansdale (Mysterious Press, 2001) is identified by: The Subterranean Press signed limited edition (limited to roughly 450 copies, signed on the limitation page) is the collectors' true first. The Subterranean Press signed limited edition is the true first; the Mysterious Press trade hardcover is the first trade edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Two firsts exist
- The Subterranean Press signed limited edition (limited to roughly 450 copies, signed on the limitation page) is the collectors' true first
- The Mysterious Press New York trade hardcover (ISBN 0892967285) is the first trade edition, identified by the number line on the copyright page
- Publisher imprint reads Mysterious Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Joe R. Lansdale |
| Publisher | Mysterious Press |
| Year | 2001 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Two firsts exist |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Two firsts exist. The Subterranean Press signed limited edition (limited to roughly 450 copies, signed on the limitation page) is the collectors' true first. The Mysterious Press New York trade hardcover (ISBN 0892967285) is the first trade edition, identified by the number line on the copyright page.

## Is this the true first?
The Subterranean Press signed limited edition is the true first; the Mysterious Press trade hardcover is the first trade edition. Hap and Leonard book six. A separate UK edition (Weidenfeld & Nicolson / Orion) also exists.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition of the Mysterious Press trade text exists; it lacks the number line, is a lighter blind-stamped volume, and carries no printed jacket price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Captains Outrageous* by Joe R. Lansdale a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/captains-outrageous
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.