# Is "Vinegar Tom" by Caryl Churchill a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Vinegar Tom by Caryl Churchill (TQ Publications, 1978) is identified by: First published by TQ Publications (the publishing arm of Theatre Quarterly), London, 1978, in wrappers. UK TQ Publications first, in wrappers.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First published by TQ Publications (the publishing arm of Theatre Quarterly), London, 1978, in wrappers
- The play premiered in October 1976 with the Monstrous Regiment company, but the first printed edition dates to 1978
- Publisher imprint reads TQ Publications
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Caryl Churchill |
| Publisher | TQ Publications |
| Year | 1978 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First published by TQ Publications (the publishing arm of Theatre Quarterly), London… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First published by TQ Publications (the publishing arm of Theatre Quarterly), London, 1978, in wrappers. The play premiered in October 1976 with the Monstrous Regiment company, but the first printed edition dates to 1978.

## Is this the true first?
UK TQ Publications first, in wrappers. Note the gap between the 1976 premiere and the 1978 publication.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Vinegar Tom* by Caryl Churchill a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/vinegar-tom
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.