# Is "The Journey Home: Some Words in Defense of the American West" by Edward Abbey a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Journey Home: Some Words in Defense of the American West by Edward Abbey (E.P. Dutton, 1977) is identified by: Dutton first printing: states First Edition / First Printing on the copyright page and carries a complete number line, dated 1977. True first US edition; a collection of essays.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Dutton first printing: states First Edition / First Printing on the copyright page and carries a complete number line, dated 1977
- Illustrated by Jim Stiles; bound in quarter black cloth over orange paper-covered boards
- Publisher imprint reads E.P. Dutton
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Edward Abbey |
| Publisher | E.P. Dutton |
| Year | 1977 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Dutton first printing: states First Edition / First Printing on the copyright page and… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Dutton first printing: states First Edition / First Printing on the copyright page and carries a complete number line, dated 1977. Illustrated by Jim Stiles; bound in quarter black cloth over orange paper-covered boards.

## Is this the true first?
True first US edition; a collection of essays.

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

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Journey Home: Some Words in Defense of the American West* by Edward Abbey a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-journey-home-some-words-in-defense-of-the-american-west
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.