# Is "Hondo (true-first vs. paperback-original confusion)" by Louis L'Amour a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Hondo (true-first vs. paperback-original confusion) by Louis L'Amour (Gold Medal Books, 1953) is identified by: The true first of Hondo is the Fawcett Gold Medal paperback original, number 511, 1953, published to coincide with the John Wayne film. Hondo first appeared as a Gold Medal paperback original in 1953, expanded from the earlier story 'The Gift of Cochise.' A Crown hardcover followed later.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The true first of Hondo is the Fawcett Gold Medal paperback original, number 511, 1953, published to coincide with the John Wayne film
- It is a paperback original; no hardcover preceded it
- The first Gold Medal printing carries the original the printed price cover price and no statement of additional printings on the copyright page
- Publisher imprint reads Gold Medal Books
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Louis L'Amour |
| Publisher | Gold Medal Books |
| Year | 1953 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The true first of Hondo is the Fawcett Gold Medal paperback original, number 511, 1953, published to coincide with the John Wayne film |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
The true first of Hondo is the Fawcett Gold Medal paperback original, number 511, 1953, published to coincide with the John Wayne film. It is a paperback original; no hardcover preceded it. The first Gold Medal printing carries the original the printed price cover price and no statement of additional printings on the copyright page.

## Is this the true first?
Hondo first appeared as a Gold Medal paperback original in 1953, expanded from the earlier story 'The Gift of Cochise.' A Crown hardcover followed later. The frequently confused point is that the true first is the 1953 Gold Medal paperback, not any hardcover.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Gold Medal printings note additional printings or carry revised cover art and prices. The hardcover and book-club editions are later states, not the true first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Hondo (true-first vs. paperback-original confusion)* by Louis L'Amour a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/hondo-true-first-vs-paperback-original-confusion
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.