# Is "Spicy Detective / Spicy-Adventure Stories (pulp)" by various (incl. Robert E. Howard as 'Sam Walser') a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Spicy Detective / Spicy-Adventure Stories (pulp) by various (incl. Robert E. Howard as 'Sam Walser') (Culture Publications, 1934 onward) is identified by: Notorious 'spicy' pulp line, heavily collected for cover art and for risque content. Original issues are the first appearances; no edition states.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Notorious 'spicy' pulp line, heavily collected for cover art and for risque content
- Identification by cover date, volume/number, and contents; single printing per issue
- Many issues exist in 'toned-down' newsstand vs. fuller states, but the principal collecting point is the specific issue, cover artist, and condition
- Publisher imprint reads Culture Publications
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | various (incl. Robert E. Howard as 'Sam Walser') |
| Publisher | Culture Publications |
| Year | 1934 onward |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Notorious 'spicy' pulp line, heavily collected for cover art and for risque content |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Notorious 'spicy' pulp line, heavily collected for cover art and for risque content. Identification by cover date, volume/number, and contents; single printing per issue. Many issues exist in 'toned-down' newsstand vs. fuller states, but the principal collecting point is the specific issue, cover artist, and condition.

## Is this the true first?
Original issues are the first appearances; no edition states. Value is driven by cover art (e.g., H. J. Ward), notable contributors, and condition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club analog. Beware modern facsimile/reprint anthologies; original Culture Publications issues with correct date and intact spicy covers are the collectible firsts.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Spicy Detective / Spicy-Adventure Stories (pulp)* by various (incl. Robert E. Howard as 'Sam Walser') a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/spicy-detective-spicy-adventure-stories-pulp
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.