# Is "Malcolm (adaptation of James Purdy)" by Edward Albee a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Malcolm (adaptation of James Purdy) by Edward Albee (Atheneum, 1966) is identified by: Black cloth, dust jacket; Atheneum, New York, 1966. The US Atheneum edition is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Black cloth, dust jacket
- Atheneum, New York, 1966
- Adapted from the novel by James Purdy
- Atheneum first editions of this period state 'First Edition' on the copyright page
- Publisher imprint reads Atheneum
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Edward Albee |
| Publisher | Atheneum |
| Year | 1966 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Black cloth, dust jacket |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Black cloth, dust jacket; Atheneum, New York, 1966. Adapted from the novel by James Purdy. Atheneum first editions of this period state 'First Edition' on the copyright page.

## Is this the true first?
The US Atheneum edition is the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies lack the dust-jacket price and the blind embossing on the front board and carry no 'First Edition' statement.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Malcolm (adaptation of James Purdy)* by Edward Albee a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/malcolm-adaptation-of-james-purdy
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.