# Is "A Fan's Notes" by Frederick Exley a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of A Fan's Notes by Frederick Exley (Harper & Row, 1968) is identified by: Harper & Row, 1968 - subtitled 'A Fictional Memoir' and centered on football fandom; the author's first book. The US Harper & Row first is the true first; a cult high spot of American sports literature.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Harper & Row, 1968 - subtitled 'A Fictional Memoir' and centered on football fandom; the author's first book
- The first printing has 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; the Harper code '1-S' (copyright page) with '0968' on the jacket flap indicates September 1968
- First-state jacket carries the printed price on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Harper & Row
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Frederick Exley |
| Publisher | Harper & Row |
| Year | 1968 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Harper & Row, 1968 - subtitled 'A Fictional Memoir' and centered on football fandom; the author's first book |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Harper & Row, 1968 - subtitled 'A Fictional Memoir' and centered on football fandom; the author's first book. The first printing has 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; the Harper code '1-S' (copyright page) with '0968' on the jacket flap indicates September 1968. First-state jacket carries the printed price on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
The US Harper & Row first is the true first; a cult high spot of American sports literature.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club issue exists; it lacks the priced jacket and may carry a blind stamp to the board. Verify the stated 'First Edition' with the '1-S'/'0968' codes and the priced jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *A Fan's Notes* by Frederick Exley a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/a-fans-notes
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.