# Is "The Trail Driver" by Zane Grey a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Trail Driver by Zane Grey (Harper & Brothers, 1936) is identified by: Harper first edition: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the printing code 'M-K'. True first US, published by Harper & Brothers in 1936 (printed December 1935).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Harper first edition: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the printing code 'M-K'
- First letter = month (M = December), second = year (K = 1935), so 'M-K' denotes December 1935 printing for the 1936-dated first edition
- Issued in dust jacket
- Publisher imprint reads Harper & Brothers
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Zane Grey |
| Publisher | Harper & Brothers |
| Year | 1936 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Harper first edition: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the printing code… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Harper first edition: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the printing code 'M-K'. First letter = month (M = December), second = year (K = 1935), so 'M-K' denotes December 1935 printing for the 1936-dated first edition. Issued in dust jacket.

## Is this the true first?
True first US, published by Harper & Brothers in 1936 (printed December 1935).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Grosset & Dunlap reprints are common and lack the Harper code; confirm the stated 'First Edition' and the 'M-K' code.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Trail Driver* by Zane Grey a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-trail-driver
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.