# Is "Rumble Tumble" by Joe R. Lansdale a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Rumble Tumble by Joe R. Lansdale (Mysterious Press, 1998) is identified by: Two 1998 firsts exist. The Subterranean Press signed limited edition is the true first; the Mysterious Press trade hardcover is the first trade edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Two 1998 firsts exist
- The Subterranean Press signed limited edition (limited to roughly 400 copies, signed on a limitation page) is the collectors' true first
- The Mysterious Press New York trade hardcover (ISBN 0892966203) is the first trade edition, identified by the number line on the copyright page
- Publisher imprint reads Mysterious Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Joe R. Lansdale |
| Publisher | Mysterious Press |
| Year | 1998 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Two 1998 firsts exist |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Two 1998 firsts exist. The Subterranean Press signed limited edition (limited to roughly 400 copies, signed on a limitation page) is the collectors' true first. The Mysterious Press New York trade hardcover (ISBN 0892966203) is the first trade edition, identified by the number line on the copyright page.

## Is this the true first?
The Subterranean Press signed limited edition is the true first; the Mysterious Press trade hardcover is the first trade edition. Hap and Leonard book five.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition of the Mysterious Press trade text exists; it lacks the number line, is typically lighter and blind-stamped, and carries no printed jacket price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Rumble Tumble* by Joe R. Lansdale a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/rumble-tumble
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.