# Is "Light in August" by William Faulkner a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Light in August by William Faulkner (Harrison Smith & Robert Haas, 1932) is identified by: First trade printing has the publisher's device and no later-printing notice; orange/tan cloth. US Smith & Haas is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First trade printing has the publisher's device and no later-printing notice; orange/tan cloth
- A signed limited edition of 1,000 numbered copies preceded or accompanied the trade issue and is the premium state
- The first trade issue lacks any printing statement
- Publisher imprint reads Harrison Smith & Robert Haas
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | William Faulkner |
| Publisher | Harrison Smith & Robert Haas |
| Year | 1932 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First trade printing has the publisher's device and no later-printing notice; orange/tan cloth |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
First trade printing has the publisher's device and no later-printing notice; orange/tan cloth. A signed limited edition of 1,000 numbered copies preceded or accompanied the trade issue and is the premium state. The first trade issue lacks any printing statement.

## Is this the true first?
US Smith & Haas is the true first. The 1,000-copy signed numbered limited is the most desirable. UK Chatto & Windus is later.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Random House / Modern Library reprints carry those imprints and notices; the signed limitation page is unique to the limited.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Light in August* by William Faulkner a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/light-in-august
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.