# Is "Me and My Baby View the Eclipse" by Lee Smith a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Me and My Baby View the Eclipse by Lee Smith (G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1990) is identified by: Story collection (subtitled Stories). US Putnam edition is the true first appearance of this collection.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Story collection (subtitled Stories)
- First printing carries a complete number line including the digit 1 on the copyright page, with the price on the dust-jacket front flap
- Publisher imprint reads G. P. Putnam's Sons
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Lee Smith |
| Publisher | G. P. Putnam's Sons |
| Year | 1990 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Story collection (subtitled Stories) |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Story collection (subtitled Stories). First printing carries a complete number line including the digit 1 on the copyright page, with the price on the dust-jacket front flap.

## Is this the true first?
US Putnam edition is the true first appearance of this collection.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack the number line and flap price and may carry a rear-board blind stamp.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Me and My Baby View the Eclipse* by Lee Smith a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/me-and-my-baby-view-the-eclipse
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.