# Is "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" by Hunter S. Thompson a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson (Random House, 1971) is identified by: First US edition, cloth (and a simultaneous wrappered issue). Random House US (1971) is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First US edition, cloth (and a simultaneous wrappered issue)
- First printing identified by 'First Edition' stated with the number line on the copyright page (Random House convention: 'First Edition' plus '9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2')
- First-issue dust jacket with its printed price, illustrated by Ralph Steadman
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Hunter S. Thompson |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1971 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Poetry |
| Key point | First US edition, cloth (and a simultaneous wrappered issue) |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
First US edition, cloth (and a simultaneous wrappered issue). First printing identified by 'First Edition' stated with the number line on the copyright page (Random House convention: 'First Edition' plus '9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2'). First-issue dust jacket with its printed price, illustrated by Ralph Steadman.

## Is this the true first?
Random House US (1971) is the true first. The clothbound first in the Steadman jacket is the prime collectible; a simultaneous paperback was also issued. Verify the Random House 'First Edition' statement and the number line.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Not a major book-club title but distinguish first printing via the Random House 'First Edition' line; the price-present Steadman jacket is required. Later printings drop the lowest numbers from the line.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas* by Hunter S. Thompson a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/fear-and-loathing-in-las-vegas
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.