# Is "Writing in Restaurants (essays)" by David Mamet a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Writing in Restaurants (essays) by David Mamet (Viking, 1986) is identified by: The Viking Press, New York, 1986 (ISBN 0-670-81140-8). US Viking Press first edition, 1986; the hardcover is the collectible issue.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The Viking Press, New York, 1986 (ISBN 0-670-81140-8)
- Hardcover in dust jacket with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page
- The first-state jacket, illustrated by Roberta Ludlow, shows a writing pad and pencil, a cup of coffee and a smoking cigar in an ashtray, with red titles on a cream ground on the front panel and spine, and carries the original printed price on the front flap
- Approximately 176 pages
- Publisher imprint reads Viking
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | David Mamet |
| Publisher | Viking |
| Year | 1986 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The Viking Press, New York, 1986 (ISBN 0-670-81140-8) |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
The Viking Press, New York, 1986 (ISBN 0-670-81140-8). Hardcover in dust jacket with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page. The first-state jacket, illustrated by Roberta Ludlow, shows a writing pad and pencil, a cup of coffee and a smoking cigar in an ashtray, with red titles on a cream ground on the front panel and spine, and carries the original printed price on the front flap. Approximately 176 pages.

## Is this the true first?
US Viking Press first edition, 1986; the hardcover is the collectible issue.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition noted for the true first; the identifier is the stated 'First Edition' line paired with the priced Ludlow-illustrated jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Writing in Restaurants (essays)* by David Mamet a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/writing-in-restaurants-essays
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.