# Is "Miami Blues" by Charles Willeford a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Miami Blues by Charles Willeford (St. Martin's Press, 1984) is identified by: Martin's Press first edition, January 1984; first printing has the full descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. US St.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Martin's Press first edition, January 1984; first printing has the full descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page
- Black cloth with gilt spine lettering; first-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap, jacket design by Walter Harper
- Octavo, 191 pp
- (Ahearn ref
- APG 018a.)
- Publisher imprint reads St. Martin's Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Charles Willeford |
| Publisher | St. Martin's Press |
| Year | 1984 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Martin's Press first edition, January 1984; first printing has the full descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
US St. Martin's Press first edition, January 1984; first printing has the full descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. Black cloth with gilt spine lettering; first-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap, jacket design by Walter Harper. Octavo, 191 pp. (Ahearn ref. APG 018a.)

## Is this the true first?
US St. Martin's (1984) is the true first — the first Hoke Moseley novel and the book that revived Willeford's career. UK editions follow.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club edition lacks the printed price on the flap, typically lacks the full number line to 1, and is on lighter bulked paper; many show a blind-stamped dot or depression on the rear board.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Miami Blues* by Charles Willeford a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/miami-blues
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.