# Is "The Subterraneans" by Jack Kerouac a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Subterraneans by Jack Kerouac (Grove Press, 1958) is identified by: First edition issued in wrappers (Evergreen / Grove paperback original) as well as a clothbound issue. Grove Press US (1958) is the true first; André Deutsch UK (1960) follows.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition issued in wrappers (Evergreen / Grove paperback original) as well as a clothbound issue
- First printing identified by the copyright page lacking later-printing notice
- Original price present
- Publisher imprint reads Grove Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Jack Kerouac |
| Publisher | Grove Press |
| Year | 1958 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Poetry |
| Key point | First edition issued in wrappers (Evergreen / Grove paperback original) as well as a clothbound issue |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
First edition issued in wrappers (Evergreen / Grove paperback original) as well as a clothbound issue. First printing identified by the copyright page lacking later-printing notice. Original price present.

## Is this the true first?
Grove Press US (1958) is the true first; André Deutsch UK (1960) follows. The clothbound first is scarcer than the wrappered issue.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Not a primary book-club title. Distinguish first printing via copyright page; confirm Grove imprint and original price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Subterraneans* by Jack Kerouac a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-subterraneans
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.