# Is "The Last Unicorn" by Peter S. Beagle a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle (Viking Press, 1968) is identified by: Viking Press 1968, 'Published in 1968 by The Viking Press' on the copyright page with no additional printings stated. US Viking 1968 true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Viking Press 1968, 'Published in 1968 by The Viking Press' on the copyright page with no additional printings stated
- Dust jacket art; first state carries the original Viking price
- First printing so stated/dated
- Publisher imprint reads Viking Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Peter S. Beagle |
| Publisher | Viking Press |
| Year | 1968 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Viking Press 1968, 'Published in 1968 by The Viking Press' on the copyright page with no additional printings stated |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Viking Press 1968, 'Published in 1968 by The Viking Press' on the copyright page with no additional printings stated. Dust jacket art; first state carries the original Viking price. First printing so stated/dated.

## Is this the true first?
US Viking 1968 true first. The UK Bodley Head (1968) is first British. First state identified by the Viking imprint with no later printing line.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions have the rear-board blind-stamp and no jacket price; later trade printings note additional impressions on the copyright page.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Last Unicorn* by Peter S. Beagle a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-last-unicorn
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.