# Is "Factotum" by Charles Bukowski a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Factotum by Charles Bukowski (Black Sparrow Press, 1975) is identified by: Bukowski's second novel. True first is the 1975 Black Sparrow issue; the 250 signed/numbered and 75 artwork copies are the limited states.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Bukowski's second novel
- Issued in trade paperback wrappers and a trade hardcover of 1000 copies (black cloth spine over pale green/paper-covered boards, spine label, plain acetate jacket), plus a signed/numbered hardcover of 250 copies and a deluxe state of 75 copies with an original painting bound in
- Color-printed title page marks the first printing; no statement of later printings
- Publisher imprint reads Black Sparrow Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Charles Bukowski |
| Publisher | Black Sparrow Press |
| Year | 1975 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Bukowski's second novel |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Bukowski's second novel. Issued in trade paperback wrappers and a trade hardcover of 1000 copies (black cloth spine over pale green/paper-covered boards, spine label, plain acetate jacket), plus a signed/numbered hardcover of 250 copies and a deluxe state of 75 copies with an original painting bound in. Color-printed title page marks the first printing; no statement of later printings.

## Is this the true first?
True first is the 1975 Black Sparrow issue; the 250 signed/numbered and 75 artwork copies are the limited states.

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

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Factotum* by Charles Bukowski a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/factotum
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.