# Is "The Sot-Weed Factor" by John Barth a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Sot-Weed Factor by John Barth (Doubleday, 1960) is identified by: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; thick octavo quarter-bound in yellow cloth over blue boards; first-state dust jacket designed by Edward Gorey with the printed price 7.50 (the record's 6.95 was incorrect). True first 1960 Doubleday.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; thick octavo quarter-bound in yellow cloth over blue boards; first-state dust jacket designed by Edward Gorey with the printed price 7.50 (the record's 6.95 was incorrect)
- Original longer text, later revised and abridged for the 1967 edition
- Publisher imprint reads Doubleday
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John Barth |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
| Year | 1960 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; thick octavo quarter-bound in yellow cloth over blue boards; first-state dust jacket designed… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; thick octavo quarter-bound in yellow cloth over blue boards; first-state dust jacket designed by Edward Gorey with the printed price 7.50 (the record's 6.95 was incorrect). Original longer text, later revised and abridged for the 1967 edition.

## Is this the true first?
True first 1960 Doubleday. The 1967 revised text from Doubleday is a first thus. UK: Secker & Warburg, 1961.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition exists; identify it by the blind-stamp on the rear board, an unpriced jacket, lighter weight, and the absence of the 'First Edition' statement.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Sot-Weed Factor* by John Barth a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-sot-weed-factor
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.