The points of issue
First edition is the Plume trade-paperback original, 1986 (New American Library / Dutton), with an introduction by Lloyd Richards. There is no trade hardcover first edition. The first printing is identified by the lowest number in the printing line and the absence of any later-printing statement. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award.
Is this the true first?
The Plume wrappers original is the true first edition. A hardcover exists, but it is a Book-of-the-Month / book-club issue that followed the paperback original and is not the first edition; the paperback original has precedence.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club hardcover is sometimes mistaken for a 'first.' It is identified by a blind-stamp or dot on the rear board and the absence of a priced trade dust jacket, and it postdates the paperback original. The true first is the Plume wrappers with the first-printing number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Fences a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition is the Plume trade-paperback original, 1986 (New American Library / Dutton), with an introduction by Lloyd Richards. There is no trade hardcover first edition. The first printing is identified by the lowest number in the printing line and the absence of any later-printing statement. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award.
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 Plume wrappers original is the true first edition. A hardcover exists, but it is a Book-of-the-Month / book-club issue that followed the paperback original and is not the first edition; the paperback original has precedence.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book-club hardcover is sometimes mistaken for a 'first.' It is identified by a blind-stamp or dot on the rear board and the absence of a priced trade dust jacket, and it postdates the paperback original. The true first is the Plume wrappers with the first-printing number line.
I have a first edition of Fences — 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.