# Is "Moran of the Lady Letty: A Story of Adventure off the California Coast" by Frank Norris a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Moran of the Lady Letty: A Story of Adventure off the California Coast by Frank Norris (Doubleday & McClure Co., 1898) is identified by: Norris's first published novel, appearing in book form in 1898 following serialization in The Wave. The true first edition is the 1898 Doubleday & McClure Co.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Norris's first published novel, appearing in book form in 1898 following serialization in The Wave
- First edition (BAL 15029) bound in original green cloth, spine and front cover lettered in yellow with additional decoration blocked in blind
- A British edition, retitled Shanghaied: A Story of Adventure off the California Coast, followed in 1899
- Publisher imprint reads Doubleday & McClure Co.
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Frank Norris |
| Publisher | Doubleday & McClure Co. |
| Year | 1898 |
| True first | British edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Norris's first published novel, appearing in book form in 1898 following serialization in The Wave |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Norris's first published novel, appearing in book form in 1898 following serialization in The Wave. First edition (BAL 15029) bound in original green cloth, spine and front cover lettered in yellow with additional decoration blocked in blind. A British edition, retitled Shanghaied: A Story of Adventure off the California Coast, followed in 1899.

## Is this the true first?
The true first edition is the 1898 Doubleday & McClure Co. (New York) printing. The British edition was retitled Shanghaied: A Story of Adventure off the California Coast and published in London by Grant Richards in 1899 (reviewed that March in The Spectator); it followed, not preceded, the American book.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Moran of the Lady Letty: A Story of Adventure off the California Coast* by Frank Norris a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/moran-of-the-lady-letty-a-story-of-adventure-off-the-califor
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.