# Is "Lost in the Funhouse" by John Barth a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Lost in the Funhouse by John Barth (Doubleday, 1968) is identified by: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; subtitle 'Fiction for Print, Tape, Live Voice' (approx. True first 1968 Doubleday.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; subtitle 'Fiction for Print, Tape, Live Voice' (approx
- Black cloth with gilt spine lettering and a deckled fore-edge; jacket designed by George Giusti with its printed price present on the flap
- Publisher imprint reads Doubleday
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John Barth |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
| Year | 1968 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; subtitle 'Fiction for Print, Tape, Live Voice' (approx |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; subtitle 'Fiction for Print, Tape, Live Voice' (approx. 201 pp.). Black cloth with gilt spine lettering and a deckled fore-edge; jacket designed by George Giusti with its printed price present on the flap.

## Is this the true first?
True first 1968 Doubleday. A signed, numbered limited edition of 250 copies was issued the same year, housed in a slipcase and without a dust jacket; no priority is established between the trade and limited issues. UK: Secker & Warburg, 1969. Story collection.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions are identified by a blind-stamp on the rear board, lighter weight, and an unpriced jacket; the stated 'First Edition' line distinguishes the trade first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Lost in the Funhouse* by John Barth a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/lost-in-the-funhouse
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.