# Is "Thirst and Other One-Act Plays" by Eugene O'Neill a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Thirst and Other One-Act Plays by Eugene O'Neill (Gorham Press, 1914) is identified by: Boston: Gorham Press (Richard G. True first book and cornerstone O'Neill rarity.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Boston: Gorham Press (Richard G. Badger), 1914, in the American Dramatists series
- Small octavo, printed wrappers over boards
- O'Neill's first book, the printing subsidized by his father; approximately 1000 copies
- Contains Thirst, The Web, Warnings, Fog, and Recklessness
- Publisher imprint reads Gorham Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Eugene O'Neill |
| Publisher | Gorham Press |
| Year | 1914 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Boston: Gorham Press (Richard G. Badger), 1914, in the American Dramatists series |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Boston: Gorham Press (Richard G. Badger), 1914, in the American Dramatists series. Small octavo, printed wrappers over boards. O'Neill's first book, the printing subsidized by his father; approximately 1000 copies. Contains Thirst, The Web, Warnings, Fog, and Recklessness.

## Is this the true first?
True first book and cornerstone O'Neill rarity. Remaining stock later passed to Frances Steloff of the Gotham Book Mart.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition. Beware later facsimiles and reprints.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Thirst and Other One-Act Plays* by Eugene O'Neill a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/thirst-and-other-one-act-plays
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.