# Is "Guilty Pleasures" by Donald Barthelme a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Guilty Pleasures by Donald Barthelme (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1974) is identified by: The copyright page of the true first states 'First printing, 1974.' The book is bound in bright yellow cloth and is an octavo of 165 pages. True first is the 1974 Farrar, Straus & Giroux hardcover, identified by the stated 'First printing, 1974' on the copyright page.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The copyright page of the true first states 'First printing, 1974.' The book is bound in bright yellow cloth and is an octavo of 165 pages
- Barthelme's first book of nonfiction, it collects parody, political satire, and fables
- The first-issue pictorial dust jacket is lettered in black and should retain its printed price (an unclipped jacket is preferred, but price presence rather than any amount is the point)
- Publisher imprint reads Farrar, Straus & Giroux
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Donald Barthelme |
| Publisher | Farrar, Straus & Giroux |
| Year | 1974 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The copyright page of the true first states 'First printing, 1974.' The book is bound in bright yellow cloth and is an octavo of 165 pages |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
The copyright page of the true first states 'First printing, 1974.' The book is bound in bright yellow cloth and is an octavo of 165 pages. Barthelme's first book of nonfiction, it collects parody, political satire, and fables. The first-issue pictorial dust jacket is lettered in black and should retain its printed price (an unclipped jacket is preferred, but price presence rather than any amount is the point).

## Is this the true first?
True first is the 1974 Farrar, Straus & Giroux hardcover, identified by the stated 'First printing, 1974' on the copyright page.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No notable book-club issue. Later printings state an additional or higher printing on the copyright page in place of 'First printing, 1974.'

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Guilty Pleasures* by Donald Barthelme a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/guilty-pleasures
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.