The points of issue
States 'First published 1992' by Hutchinson on the copyright page. Publisher's brown cloth lettered in gilt, in a pictorial, priced dust jacket. Structured as 26 chapters, each set in a place beginning with a different letter.
Is this the true first?
UK Hutchinson (1992) is the true first. The US first came later. The UK precedes.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No notable book-club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Fool's Alphabet a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: States 'First published 1992' by Hutchinson on the copyright page. Publisher's brown cloth lettered in gilt, in a pictorial, priced dust jacket. Structured as 26 chapters, each set in a place beginning with a different letter.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. UK Hutchinson (1992) is the true first. The US first came later. The UK precedes.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No notable book-club edition.
I have a first edition of A Fool's Alphabet — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.