# Is "Good News" by Edward Abbey a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Good News by Edward Abbey (E.P. Dutton, 1980) is identified by: First printing bears Dutton's first-edition identification on the copyright page (a 'First Edition' statement / number row per Dutton's early-1980s convention). True first US edition of this novel (Abbey's dystopian work); a simultaneous softcover issue also exists.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing bears Dutton's first-edition identification on the copyright page (a 'First Edition' statement / number row per Dutton's early-1980s convention)
- Dust jacket priced 10.95 on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads E.P. Dutton
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Edward Abbey |
| Publisher | E.P. Dutton |
| Year | 1980 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing bears Dutton's first-edition identification on the copyright page (a… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First printing bears Dutton's first-edition identification on the copyright page (a 'First Edition' statement / number row per Dutton's early-1980s convention). Dust jacket priced 10.95 on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
True first US edition of this novel (Abbey's dystopian work); a simultaneous softcover issue also exists.

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

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Good News* by Edward Abbey a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/good-news
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.