# Is "Sabbatical: A Romance" by John Barth a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Sabbatical: A Romance by John Barth (G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1982) is identified by: First printing has the Putnam first-edition statement on the copyright page. True first is the 1982 G.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing has the Putnam first-edition statement on the copyright page
- Issued in three-quarter cloth with a priced, unclipped dust jacket
- A signed, numbered limited edition with slipcase was also published
- Publisher imprint reads G. P. Putnam's Sons
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John Barth |
| Publisher | G. P. Putnam's Sons |
| Year | 1982 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing has the Putnam first-edition statement on the copyright page |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First printing has the Putnam first-edition statement on the copyright page. Issued in three-quarter cloth with a priced, unclipped dust jacket. A signed, numbered limited edition with slipcase was also published.

## Is this the true first?
True first is the 1982 G. P. Putnam's Sons edition, New York. UK first followed from Secker & Warburg, 1982.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club issue is blind-stamped to the rear board with an unpriced jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Sabbatical: A Romance* by John Barth a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/sabbatical-a-romance
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.