# Is "Shadowland" by Peter Straub a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Shadowland by Peter Straub (Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1980) is identified by: US Coward, McCann & Geoghegan hardcover, 1980 (the title appears on the book as 'Shadow Land,' two words). The US Coward, McCann & Geoghegan edition is the true first; the UK Collins edition is the UK first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- US Coward, McCann & Geoghegan hardcover, 1980 (the title appears on the book as 'Shadow Land,' two words)
- The first is identified by the absence of any later-printing statement on the copyright page
- Coward-McCann did not consistently print a stated 'First American Edition' line for this title
- The dust jacket is priced 12.the printed price on the front flap
- Boards are blue cloth-backed with silver spine lettering
- Publisher imprint reads Coward, McCann & Geoghegan
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Peter Straub |
| Publisher | Coward, McCann & Geoghegan |
| Year | 1980 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | US Coward, McCann & Geoghegan hardcover, 1980 (the title appears on the book as 'Shadow Land,' two words) |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
US Coward, McCann & Geoghegan hardcover, 1980 (the title appears on the book as 'Shadow Land,' two words). The first is identified by the absence of any later-printing statement on the copyright page; Coward-McCann did not consistently print a stated 'First American Edition' line for this title. The dust jacket is priced 12.the printed price on the front flap. Boards are blue cloth-backed with silver spine lettering.

## Is this the true first?
The US Coward, McCann & Geoghegan edition is the true first; the UK Collins edition is the UK first. A Dark Harvest signed, numbered limited edition is the prized deluxe state and a first thus.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the printed 12.the printed price jacket price, are smaller and lighter, and may carry a board blind-stamp. The priced jacket plus absence of a later-printing statement confirms a first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Shadowland* by Peter Straub a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/shadowland
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.