# Is "The Lady from Dubuque" by Edward Albee a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Lady from Dubuque by Edward Albee (Atheneum, 1980) is identified by: Atheneum (New York), 1980, first edition so stated on the copyright page. The Atheneum New York hardcover is the true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Atheneum (New York), 1980, first edition so stated on the copyright page
- Bound in black cloth, octavo, 161 pages
- The glossy dust jacket is printed in red, white and black and should retain its printed price on the front flap (unclipped)
- First Broadway production opened in 1980
- Publisher imprint reads Atheneum
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Edward Albee |
| Publisher | Atheneum |
| Year | 1980 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Atheneum (New York), 1980, first edition so stated on the copyright page |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Atheneum (New York), 1980, first edition so stated on the copyright page. Bound in black cloth, octavo, 161 pages. The glossy dust jacket is printed in red, white and black and should retain its printed price on the front flap (unclipped). First Broadway production opened in 1980.

## Is this the true first?
The Atheneum New York hardcover is the true first edition. First Broadway production was 1980.

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

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Lady from Dubuque* by Edward Albee a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-lady-from-dubuque
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.