# Is "Confess, Fletch" by Gregory Mcdonald a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Confess, Fletch by Gregory Mcdonald (Avon Books, 1976) is identified by: US Avon paperback original, November 1976 (Avon #30882) — a true paperback original with no prior hardcover; first printing identified by the Avon code and number line. US Avon 1976 paperback is the true first; later hardcover gatherings are first-thus.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- US Avon paperback original, November 1976 (Avon #30882) — a true paperback original with no prior hardcover; first printing identified by the Avon code and number line
- Won the 1977 Edgar for Best Paperback Original, making McDonald the only author to win for both a first novel (Fletch) and its sequel
- Publisher imprint reads Avon Books
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Gregory Mcdonald |
| Publisher | Avon Books |
| Year | 1976 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | US Avon paperback original, November 1976 (Avon #30882) — a true paperback original with no prior hardcover; first printing identified by… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
US Avon paperback original, November 1976 (Avon #30882) — a true paperback original with no prior hardcover; first printing identified by the Avon code and number line. Won the 1977 Edgar for Best Paperback Original, making McDonald the only author to win for both a first novel (Fletch) and its sequel.

## Is this the true first?
US Avon 1976 paperback is the true first; later hardcover gatherings are first-thus.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Reissues with altered covers or revised Avon codes are later printings.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Confess, Fletch* by Gregory Mcdonald a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/confess-fletch
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.