# Is "Artist Descending a Staircase and Where Are They Now (radio plays)" by Tom Stoppard a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Artist Descending a Staircase and Where Are They Now (radio plays) by Tom Stoppard (Faber and Faber, 1973) is identified by: First published by Faber and Faber, London, 1973, in printed wrappers as a paperback play script. The UK Faber and Faber 1973 wrappered edition is the true first, collecting these two radio plays together.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First published by Faber and Faber, London, 1973, in printed wrappers as a paperback play script
- First edition, first printing has no later printing statement and retains the original Faber price on the wrapper
- Publisher imprint reads Faber and Faber
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Tom Stoppard |
| Publisher | Faber and Faber |
| Year | 1973 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First published by Faber and Faber, London, 1973, in printed wrappers as a paperback play… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First published by Faber and Faber, London, 1973, in printed wrappers as a paperback play script. First edition, first printing has no later printing statement and retains the original Faber price on the wrapper.

## Is this the true first?
The UK Faber and Faber 1973 wrappered edition is the true first, collecting these two radio plays together.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Artist Descending a Staircase and Where Are They Now (radio plays)* by Tom Stoppard a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/artist-descending-a-staircase-and-where-are-they-now-radio-p
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.