The Crying of Lot 49
The Crying of Lot 49 is a short novel by Thomas Pynchon, first published by J. B. Lippincott in Philadelphia on 27 April 1966. Named executor of a former lover's estate, Californian Oedipa Maas begins to suspect a secret postal network, the Tristero, which leads her to a stamp auction.
- Editions tracked
- 3
- First edition
- J. B. Lippincott, 1966
- First published
- J. B. Lippincott, Philadelphia, 1966
- Set text
- Time's All-Time 100 Novels 2005
The first edition of The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon was published in Philadelphia by J. B. Lippincott in 1966. We track 3 editions.
Which edition do you have?
First edition
- 1st J. B. Lippincott1966 Hardback I own The Crying of Lot 49, J. B. Lippincott 1966 Log in to want this
Later and other editions
- Bantam Books1965 Paperback I own The Crying of Lot 49, Bantam Books 1965 Log in to want this
- Jonathan Cape1967 Hardback I own The Crying of Lot 49, Jonathan Cape 1967 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
Setting and characters
- Set in
- California
- Genre
- science fiction, postmodern fiction, metafiction, secret history
Read next
- Comes after
- V.
- Followed by
- Gravity's Rainbow
In print
- Editions recorded
- 55 on Open Library, 28 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 18 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
More by Thomas Pynchon
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How to Identify a First Edition
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Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
Who published the first edition of The Crying of Lot 49?
The first edition of The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon was published in Philadelphia by J. B. Lippincott in 1966.
How many editions of The Crying of Lot 49 are there?
We track 3 editions of The Crying of Lot 49, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
What should I read after The Crying of Lot 49?
In order, it follows V. and it is followed by Gravity's Rainbow, according to Wikidata.
Where these facts come from
- The Crying of Lot 49, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- The Crying of Lot 49 (Q2344707), Wikidata (wikidata.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 18 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.