# Is "Junkie: Confessions of an Unredeemed Drug Addict" by William S. Burroughs (as 'William Lee') a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Junkie: Confessions of an Unredeemed Drug Addict by William S. Burroughs (as 'William Lee') (Ace Books, 1953) is identified by: True first is the paperback original Ace Double D-15, a dos-a-dos (tete-beche) double bound back-to-back with 'Narcotic Agent' by Maurice Helbrant. The paperback IS the true first edition; there was no prior hardcover.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- True first is the paperback original Ace Double D-15, a dos-a-dos (tete-beche) double bound back-to-back with 'Narcotic Agent' by Maurice Helbrant
- Author credited as 'William Lee' on the cover (the pseudonym). with its printed price; cover designated an 'ACE Original.' Cover art by Al Rossi
- Printed on poor, brittle paper, so genuinely fine copies are scarce and command a large premium
- Bibliographic ref: Maynard & Miles A1
- Publisher imprint reads Ace Books
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | William S. Burroughs (as 'William Lee') |
| Publisher | Ace Books |
| Year | 1953 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | True first is the paperback original Ace Double D-15, a dos-a-dos (tete-beche) double bound back-to-back with 'Narcotic Agent' by Maurice… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
True first is the paperback original Ace Double D-15, a dos-a-dos (tete-beche) double bound back-to-back with 'Narcotic Agent' by Maurice Helbrant. Author credited as 'William Lee' on the cover (the pseudonym). with its printed price; cover designated an 'ACE Original.' Cover art by Al Rossi. Printed on poor, brittle paper, so genuinely fine copies are scarce and command a large premium. Bibliographic ref: Maynard & Miles A1.

## Is this the true first?
The paperback IS the true first edition; there was no prior hardcover. Later Ace printings exist under different numbers (K-202, 1964; later as 'Junkie' and then 'Junky'). The 1977 Penguin 'Junky' is the first complete/unexpurgated text and a separate 'first thus.' UK title is 'Junky.' First state is the D-15 double only.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition exists for the original. Beware later Ace reprints (K-202 etc.) sold as the first; only D-15 bound with Narcotic Agent and credited to 'William Lee' is the true first. Reprints have higher serial numbers and are single (not dos-a-dos doubles).

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Junkie: Confessions of an Unredeemed Drug Addict* by William S. Burroughs (as 'William Lee') a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/junkie-confessions-of-an-unredeemed-drug-addict-william-s-burr
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.