# Is "The Late Child" by Larry McMurtry a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Late Child by Larry McMurtry (Simon & Schuster, 1995) is identified by: Simon & Schuster, New York, 1995. True first is the US Simon & Schuster edition of 1995; this is a US-originating novel with no earlier foreign printing.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Simon & Schuster, New York, 1995
- The first printing is identified by a complete number line reading 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on the copyright page, terminating in 1
- Hardcover of roughly 464 pages, issued in a pictorial dust jacket that must carry the printed cover price on the front flap (present regardless of any later clipping)
- The sequel to The Desert Rose
- Publisher imprint reads Simon & Schuster
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Larry McMurtry |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
| Year | 1995 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Simon & Schuster, New York, 1995 |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Simon & Schuster, New York, 1995. The first printing is identified by a complete number line reading 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on the copyright page, terminating in 1. Hardcover of roughly 464 pages, issued in a pictorial dust jacket that must carry the printed cover price on the front flap (present regardless of any later clipping). The sequel to The Desert Rose.

## Is this the true first?
True first is the US Simon & Schuster edition of 1995; this is a US-originating novel with no earlier foreign printing.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book-club edition concern for this title. A first printing is confirmed by the full number line running down to 1 on the copyright page.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Late Child* by Larry McMurtry a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-late-child
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.