# Is "Edwin Mullhouse: The Life and Death of an American Writer 1943-1954" by Steven Millhauser a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Edwin Mullhouse: The Life and Death of an American Writer 1943-1954 by Steven Millhauser (Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1972) is identified by: The true first was published by Alfred A. US Knopf (New York) 1972 is the true first (author American; no earlier printing recorded), and US 1972 precedence is not in doubt.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The true first was published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York, in 1972 — Millhauser's debut novel (full title "Edwin Mullhouse: The Life and Death of an American Writer 1943-1954, by Jeffrey Cartwright")
- Per Knopf's house practice of the period, the first printing states "FIRST EDITION" on the copyright page (with the Borzoi device) and carries no later-printing notice; it is bound in black cloth lettered in gilt on the spine and issued in a priced dust jacket (price present at the flap) with jacket art by Alice and Martin Provensen
- A green top-stain is reported but rests on a single source
- The US-first identity, debut status, black cloth, and Provensen jacket are corroborated across Wikipedia and multiple dealers
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf, New York
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Steven Millhauser |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf, New York |
| Year | 1972 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The true first was published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York, in 1972 — Millhauser's debut novel (full title "Edwin Mullhouse: The Life and… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
The true first was published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York, in 1972 — Millhauser's debut novel (full title "Edwin Mullhouse: The Life and Death of an American Writer 1943-1954, by Jeffrey Cartwright"). Per Knopf's house practice of the period, the first printing states "FIRST EDITION" on the copyright page (with the Borzoi device) and carries no later-printing notice; it is bound in black cloth lettered in gilt on the spine and issued in a priced dust jacket (price present at the flap) with jacket art by Alice and Martin Provensen. A green top-stain is reported but rests on a single source. The US-first identity, debut status, black cloth, and Provensen jacket are corroborated across Wikipedia and multiple dealers.

## Is this the true first?
US Knopf (New York) 1972 is the true first (author American; no earlier printing recorded), and US 1972 precedence is not in doubt. The census cites a later UK Weidenfeld & Nicolson edition (1974); that UK date/publisher is NOT independently confirmed here.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No period book-club issue documented for the first; the common later-issue look-alikes are subsequent paperback reprints (e.g., Vintage) and later reissues.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Edwin Mullhouse: The Life and Death of an American Writer 1943-1954* by Steven Millhauser a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/edwin-mullhouse-the-life-and-death-of-an-american-writer-194
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.