# Is "Down the River" by Edward Abbey a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Down the River by Edward Abbey (E.P. Dutton, 1982) is identified by: First printing of this essay collection, published by E.P. True first US edition of the essay collection; there is no earlier printing in another country to precede it.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing of this essay collection, published by E.P. Dutton, New York, 1982, following Dutton's house practice of stating its first-edition identification on the copyright page
- Octavo, 242 pages, bound in quarter white cloth over blue paper-covered boards with gilt titling to the spine
- Issued in a pictorial dust jacket that on a first-state example retains its printed price to the front flap; the price statement should be present although copies are often found price-clipped
- Publisher imprint reads E.P. Dutton
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Edward Abbey |
| Publisher | E.P. Dutton |
| Year | 1982 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing of this essay collection, published by E.P. Dutton, New York, 1982… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First printing of this essay collection, published by E.P. Dutton, New York, 1982, following Dutton's house practice of stating its first-edition identification on the copyright page. Octavo, 242 pages, bound in quarter white cloth over blue paper-covered boards with gilt titling to the spine. Issued in a pictorial dust jacket that on a first-state example retains its printed price to the front flap; the price statement should be present although copies are often found price-clipped.

## Is this the true first?
True first US edition of the essay collection; there is no earlier printing in another country to precede it.

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

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Down the River* by Edward Abbey a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/down-the-river
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.