The points of issue
First printing carries a complete number line including the digit 1 on the copyright page, with no later-printing statement. Blue cloth boards in a pictorial dust jacket with the price on the front flap. First printing is noted as elusive.
Is this the true first?
US Putnam edition is the true first; the UK Macmillan edition followed in 1989.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack the number line and the flap price and may carry a rear-board blind stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Fair and Tender Ladies a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing carries a complete number line including the digit 1 on the copyright page, with no later-printing statement. Blue cloth boards in a pictorial dust jacket with the price on the front flap. First printing is noted as elusive.
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. US Putnam edition is the true first; the UK Macmillan edition followed in 1989.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions lack the number line and the flap price and may carry a rear-board blind stamp.
I have a first edition of Fair and Tender Ladies — 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.