# Is "The Tongues of Angels" by Reynolds Price a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Tongues of Angels by Reynolds Price (Atheneum, 1990) is identified by: Atheneum first printing identified by the number line on the copyright page containing a 1. US first (Atheneum, New York).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Atheneum first printing identified by the number line on the copyright page containing a 1
- Original unclipped dust jacket with the publisher's price intact
- A signed limited edition was also issued; the points above describe the standard trade first
- Publisher imprint reads Atheneum
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Reynolds Price |
| Publisher | Atheneum |
| Year | 1990 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Atheneum first printing identified by the number line on the copyright page containing a 1 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Atheneum first printing identified by the number line on the copyright page containing a 1. Original unclipped dust jacket with the publisher's price intact. A signed limited edition was also issued; the points above describe the standard trade first.

## Is this the true first?
US first (Atheneum, New York).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition typically lacks the full number line, carries a blind stamp on the rear board, and has a jacket with no printed price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Tongues of Angels* by Reynolds Price a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-tongues-of-angels
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.