# Is "Some Buried Caesar" by Rex Stout a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Some Buried Caesar by Rex Stout (Farrar & Rinehart, 1939) is identified by: First published by Farrar & Rinehart, New York, 1939. The US Farrar & Rinehart edition is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First published by Farrar & Rinehart, New York, 1939
- First printing carries the F&R monogram (colophon) on the copyright page
- Light green cloth stamped in black
- Sixth Nero Wolfe novel; introduces Lily Rowan
- Serialized earlier in abridged form as 'The Red Bull'
- Publisher imprint reads Farrar & Rinehart
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Rex Stout |
| Publisher | Farrar & Rinehart |
| Year | 1939 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First published by Farrar & Rinehart, New York, 1939 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First published by Farrar & Rinehart, New York, 1939. First printing carries the F&R monogram (colophon) on the copyright page. Light green cloth stamped in black. Sixth Nero Wolfe novel; introduces Lily Rowan. Serialized earlier in abridged form as 'The Red Bull'.

## Is this the true first?
The US Farrar & Rinehart edition is the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings, reprints, and book-club issues follow.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Some Buried Caesar* by Rex Stout a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/some-buried-caesar
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.