# Is "Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer" by Steven Millhauser a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer by Steven Millhauser (Crown Publishers, 1996) is identified by: Crown first printing: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page together with the descending number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' (the 1 present). The US Crown 1996 edition is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Crown first printing: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page together with the descending number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' (the 1 present)
- First-issue cloth binding with the dust jacket carrying the printed retail price
- Publisher imprint reads Crown Publishers
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Steven Millhauser |
| Publisher | Crown Publishers |
| Year | 1996 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Crown first printing: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page together with the descending number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' (the 1… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Crown first printing: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page together with the descending number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' (the 1 present). First-issue cloth binding with the dust jacket carrying the printed retail price.

## Is this the true first?
The US Crown 1996 edition is the true first. Both the stated 'First Edition' line and the full number line ending in 1 confirm the first printing. Winner of the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issues lack the stated 'First Edition' line and the number line; many carry a rear-board blind-stamp and an unpriced jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer* by Steven Millhauser a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/martin-dressler-the-tale-of-an-american-dreamer
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.