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

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Junkie: Confessions of an Unredeemed Drug Addict by William Lee (pseudonym of William S. Burroughs) (Ace Books, 1953) is identified by: Mass-market paperback, Ace Double D-15, bound dos-à-dos (tête-bêche) with Maurice Helbrant's 'Narcotic Agent.' Author pseudonym 'William Lee.' First printing carries the Ace D-15 number and original 35¢ price; pulp cover art. The Ace Double (1953, as by 'William Lee') is the true first — Burroughs's first published book.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Mass-market paperback, Ace Double D-15, bound dos-à-dos (tête-bêche) with Maurice Helbrant's 'Narcotic Agent.' Author pseudonym 'William Lee.' First printing carries the Ace D-15 number and original 35¢ price; pulp cover art
- No printing statement beyond the original Ace issue
- Publisher imprint reads Ace Books
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | William Lee (pseudonym of William S. Burroughs) |
| Publisher | Ace Books |
| Year | 1953 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Poetry |
| Key point | Mass-market paperback, Ace Double D-15, bound dos-à-dos (tête-bêche) with Maurice Helbrant's 'Narcotic Agent.' Author pseudonym 'William… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Mass-market paperback, Ace Double D-15, bound dos-à-dos (tête-bêche) with Maurice Helbrant's 'Narcotic Agent.' Author pseudonym 'William Lee.' First printing carries the Ace D-15 number and original 35¢ price; pulp cover art. No printing statement beyond the original Ace issue.

## Is this the true first?
The Ace Double (1953, as by 'William Lee') is the true first — Burroughs's first published book. Later editions appear under his own name as 'Junky' (Penguin, 1977, restored text — a 'first thus'). The fragile pulp paperback in collectible condition is genuinely scarce.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club. The key distinction is the 1953 Ace Double (pseudonymous, dos-à-dos with Helbrant) versus all later restored 'Junky' editions under Burroughs's name. Confirm the D-15 designation and the bound-with title.

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