# Is "The Terrible Twos" by Ishmael Reed a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Terrible Twos by Ishmael Reed (St. Martin's Press / Marek, 1982) is identified by: Martin's / Marek, New York, 1982, first printing. True first is the 1982 St.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Martin's / Marek, New York, 1982, first printing
- Octavo hardcover of 178 pages with a stated first edition on the copyright page and the publisher's number line retaining the lowest figure on the first printing
- The first-issue dust jacket, designed by Andy Carpenter, should retain its printed price on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads St. Martin's Press / Marek
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ishmael Reed |
| Publisher | St. Martin's Press / Marek |
| Year | 1982 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Martin's / Marek, New York, 1982, first printing |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
St. Martin's / Marek, New York, 1982, first printing. Octavo hardcover of 178 pages with a stated first edition on the copyright page and the publisher's number line retaining the lowest figure on the first printing. The first-issue dust jacket, designed by Andy Carpenter, should retain its printed price on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
True first is the 1982 St. Martin's/Marek hardcover (ISBN 0312791992 / 9780312791995).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Terrible Twos* by Ishmael Reed a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-terrible-twos
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.