# Is "Platte River" by Rick Bass a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Platte River by Rick Bass (Houghton Mifflin / Seymour Lawrence, 1994) is identified by: Houghton Mifflin/Seymour Lawrence (Boston) first printing, 1994; issued in dust jacket. True first US edition; collection of three novellas.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Houghton Mifflin/Seymour Lawrence (Boston) first printing, 1994; issued in dust jacket
- Three novellas (Mahatma Joe
- Field Events
- Platte River)
- ISBN 0395680808
- Publisher imprint reads Houghton Mifflin / Seymour Lawrence
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Rick Bass |
| Publisher | Houghton Mifflin / Seymour Lawrence |
| Year | 1994 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Houghton Mifflin/Seymour Lawrence (Boston) first printing, 1994; issued in dust jacket |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Houghton Mifflin/Seymour Lawrence (Boston) first printing, 1994; issued in dust jacket. Three novellas (Mahatma Joe; Field Events; Platte River). ISBN 0395680808.

## Is this the true first?
True first US edition; collection of three novellas.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No major book-club edition concern.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Platte River* by Rick Bass a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/platte-river
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.