# Is "The Desert Rose" by Larry McMurtry a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Desert Rose by Larry McMurtry (Simon & Schuster, 1983) is identified by: Simon & Schuster, New York, 1983. True first is the Simon & Schuster US trade edition (distinct from the signed limited edition).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Simon & Schuster, New York, 1983
- First printing identified by the full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page, with the original dust jacket present
- A separate signed limited edition of 250 copies was also issued
- Publisher imprint reads Simon & Schuster
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Larry McMurtry |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
| Year | 1983 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Simon & Schuster, New York, 1983 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Simon & Schuster, New York, 1983. First printing identified by the full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page, with the original dust jacket present. A separate signed limited edition of 250 copies was also issued.

## Is this the true first?
True first is the Simon & Schuster US trade edition (distinct from the signed limited edition).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No major book-club concern; some copies carry a remainder mark, which does not affect first-printing status. Confirm the number line ends in 1.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Desert Rose* by Larry McMurtry a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-desert-rose
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.