The points of issue
Trade paperback original, subtitled "A Novel in Dramatic Form," in glossy pictorial card wrappers. First printing carries the full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. No preceding hardcover trade edition.
Is this the true first?
The Vintage paperback original is the true first; there was no earlier hardcover.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. Later printings show a number line not ending in 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Sunset Limited (play) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Trade paperback original, subtitled "A Novel in Dramatic Form," in glossy pictorial card wrappers. First printing carries the full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. No preceding hardcover trade edition.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. The Vintage paperback original is the true first; there was no earlier hardcover.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. Later printings show a number line not ending in 1.
I have a first edition of The Sunset Limited (play) — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.