# Is "Cobble Stone Gardens" by William S. Burroughs a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Cobble Stone Gardens by William S. Burroughs (Cherry Valley Editions, 1976) is identified by: Short memoir/collage of family material, photo-illustrated. The 1976 Cherry Valley Editions original is the true first, published in two simultaneous formats: the illustrated trade wrappers and a signed hardbound limited of 50 copies.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Short memoir/collage of family material, photo-illustrated
- Issued in two simultaneous first-printing formats: photographically illustrated glossy wrappers (trade issue), and a very limited hardbound issue of 50 copies signed by Burroughs
- No later printings stated on the first issue
- Publisher imprint reads Cherry Valley Editions
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | William S. Burroughs |
| Publisher | Cherry Valley Editions |
| Year | 1976 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Short memoir/collage of family material, photo-illustrated |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Short memoir/collage of family material, photo-illustrated. Issued in two simultaneous first-printing formats: photographically illustrated glossy wrappers (trade issue), and a very limited hardbound issue of 50 copies signed by Burroughs. No later printings stated on the first issue.

## Is this the true first?
The 1976 Cherry Valley Editions original is the true first, published in two simultaneous formats: the illustrated trade wrappers and a signed hardbound limited of 50 copies. Both are first-printing issues of 1976.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Cobble Stone Gardens* by William S. Burroughs a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/cobble-stone-gardens
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.