first sketch, first draft, first try (first version of a writing)

major, leading, high-profile, top, first-rate

top, top-notch, first-rate, first-class

top-class, first-class, first-rate, of prime quality, of finest quality, of choice, choice

(mountaineering) lead climber, climber in lead, leader / (figuratively) trailblazer / (figuratively) most wealthy person or country, any entity at the top of the economic ladder

the first step is always the hardest

(archaic) first-born

(figuratively) to make one's debut, to take one's first steps (somewhere)

(soccer) near post

tribal art, primitive art