# Is "If You Could See Me Now" by Peter Straub a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of If You Could See Me Now by Peter Straub (Jonathan Cape, 1977) is identified by: Jonathan Cape (UK) first edition, June 1977; copyright page reads First published 1977 with no later printings noted. The Cape UK and Coward, McCann and Geoghegan US editions appeared essentially simultaneously in June 1977; no reliable source establishes clear precedence, and both are collected as firsts in their markets.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Jonathan Cape (UK) first edition, June 1977; copyright page reads First published 1977 with no later printings noted
- The US edition (Coward, McCann and Geoghegan, also June 1977) carries no statement of later printings on a true first
- Publisher imprint reads Jonathan Cape
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Peter Straub |
| Publisher | Jonathan Cape |
| Year | 1977 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Jonathan Cape (UK) first edition, June 1977; copyright page reads First published 1977 with no later printings noted |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Jonathan Cape (UK) first edition, June 1977; copyright page reads First published 1977 with no later printings noted. The US edition (Coward, McCann and Geoghegan, also June 1977) carries no statement of later printings on a true first.

## Is this the true first?
The Cape UK and Coward, McCann and Geoghegan US editions appeared essentially simultaneously in June 1977; no reliable source establishes clear precedence, and both are collected as firsts in their markets.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack a printed price on the jacket flap and may carry a blind stamp or small dot on the lower rear board.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *If You Could See Me Now* by Peter Straub a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/if-you-could-see-me-now
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.