The points of issue
The first printing has First Edition stated on the copyright page (Harper & Row convention before the 1975 switch to number lines); the copyright page also bears a two-letter month-and-year printing code consistent with 1973. First-issue jacket priced on the front flap. A scarce Smith title.
Is this the true first?
The US Harper & Row edition is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings remove the First Edition statement or show a later code; no significant book-club edition recorded.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Fancy Strut a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The first printing has First Edition stated on the copyright page (Harper & Row convention before the 1975 switch to number lines); the copyright page also bears a two-letter month-and-year printing code consistent with 1973. First-issue jacket priced on the front flap. A scarce Smith title.
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. The US Harper & Row edition is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings remove the First Edition statement or show a later code; no significant book-club edition recorded.
I have a first edition of Fancy Strut — 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.