# Is "Three Farmers on Their Way to a Dance" by Richard Powers a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Three Farmers on Their Way to a Dance by Richard Powers (Beech Tree Books / William Morrow, 1985) is identified by: First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a full number line descending to 1, issued under the Beech Tree Books imprint of William Morrow (New York, 1985). US Beech Tree Books/William Morrow first edition (1985) is the true first; the UK Weidenfeld & Nicolson edition followed in 1988.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a full number line descending to 1, issued under the Beech Tree Books imprint of William Morrow (New York, 1985)
- The debut novel is bound in puce/pink quarter cloth over paper boards and issued in a pictorial dust wrapper; the first-state jacket should retain its printed price on the front flap and is not price-clipped
- An advance uncorrected proof state also exists and precedes the trade issue for collectors
- Publisher imprint reads Beech Tree Books / William Morrow
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Richard Powers |
| Publisher | Beech Tree Books / William Morrow |
| Year | 1985 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a full number line… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a full number line descending to 1, issued under the Beech Tree Books imprint of William Morrow (New York, 1985). The debut novel is bound in puce/pink quarter cloth over paper boards and issued in a pictorial dust wrapper; the first-state jacket should retain its printed price on the front flap and is not price-clipped. An advance uncorrected proof state also exists and precedes the trade issue for collectors.

## Is this the true first?
US Beech Tree Books/William Morrow first edition (1985) is the true first; the UK Weidenfeld & Nicolson edition followed in 1988. A scarce and sought-after debut.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No notable book-club edition; the later HarperPerennial/Harper paperback reprints are not the first edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Three Farmers on Their Way to a Dance* by Richard Powers a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/three-farmers-on-their-way-to-a-dance
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.