# Is "The Emperor Jones (illustrated edition)" by Eugene O'Neill a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Emperor Jones (illustrated edition) by Eugene O'Neill (Boni & Liveright, 1928) is identified by: The 1928 illustrated edition was issued in a single signed, numbered limited state of 775 copies (750 for sale) with eight illustrations by Alexander King, signed by O'Neill on the limitation page. First illustrated edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The 1928 illustrated edition was issued in a single signed, numbered limited state of 775 copies (750 for sale) with eight illustrations by Alexander King, signed by O'Neill on the limitation page
- Decorated paper-covered boards over a black cloth spine with gilt titles, pictorial dust jacket and paper-labeled slipcase
- There was no separate illustrated trade issue in 1928
- Publisher imprint reads Boni & Liveright
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Eugene O'Neill |
| Publisher | Boni & Liveright |
| Year | 1928 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The 1928 illustrated edition was issued in a single signed, numbered limited state of 775… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
The 1928 illustrated edition was issued in a single signed, numbered limited state of 775 copies (750 for sale) with eight illustrations by Alexander King, signed by O'Neill on the limitation page. Decorated paper-covered boards over a black cloth spine with gilt titles, pictorial dust jacket and paper-labeled slipcase. There was no separate illustrated trade issue in 1928.

## Is this the true first?
First illustrated edition. It exists only as the signed limited of 775 copies; the King-illustrated 1928 book is itself the limited edition, not a trade printing. This is distinct from the earlier, unillustrated 1921 Boni & Liveright first appearance of the play.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Emperor Jones (illustrated edition)* by Eugene O'Neill a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-emperor-jones-illustrated-edition
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.