# Is "Western Union" by Zane Grey a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Western Union by Zane Grey (Harper & Brothers, 1939) is identified by: Harper first edition: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the printing code 'I-O'. True first US, published by Harper & Brothers in 1939.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Harper first edition: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the printing code 'I-O'
- First letter = month (I = September), second = year (O = 1939), so 'I-O' denotes September 1939 printing, published October 1939
- Issued in illustrated dust jacket
- One of the last novels published in Grey's lifetime
- Publisher imprint reads Harper & Brothers
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Zane Grey |
| Publisher | Harper & Brothers |
| Year | 1939 |
| 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 'I-O'. First letter = month (I = September), second = year (O = 1939), so 'I-O' denotes September 1939 printing, published October 1939. Issued in illustrated dust jacket. One of the last novels published in Grey's lifetime.

## Is this the true first?
True first US, published by Harper & Brothers in 1939. Grey died 23 October 1939, making this among the last titles issued in his lifetime.

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

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Western Union* by Zane Grey a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/western-union
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.