# Is "Outer Dark" by Cormac McCarthy a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Outer Dark by Cormac McCarthy (Random House, 1968) is identified by: McCarthy's second novel. US Random House is the true first; the UK Andre Deutsch edition (1970) follows.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- McCarthy's second novel. 'First Printing' is stated on the copyright page (not 'First Edition'), with no mention of further printings; the first edition had a single printing of about 5,000 copies
- Cloth binding with the printed price unclipped on the dust jacket
- Scarce in jacket
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Cormac McCarthy |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1968 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | McCarthy's second novel. 'First Printing' is stated on the copyright page (not 'First Edition'), with no mention of further printings; the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
McCarthy's second novel. 'First Printing' is stated on the copyright page (not 'First Edition'), with no mention of further printings; the first edition had a single printing of about 5,000 copies. Cloth binding with the printed price unclipped on the dust jacket. Scarce in jacket.

## Is this the true first?
US Random House is the true first; the UK Andre Deutsch edition (1970) follows.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No prominent book-club edition; reprints omit the 'First Printing' statement.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Outer Dark* by Cormac McCarthy a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/outer-dark
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.