The points of issue
First trade hardcover states 'First printing' on the copyright page; first-state dust jacket carries the original price and is unclipped. Black cloth with red foil trident on the front board; Vonnegut's first published play.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1971 Delacorte Press / Seymour Lawrence trade hardcover. A Samuel French acting edition (paperback) also exists and is a separate, later format, not the collected first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Happy Birthday, Wanda June a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First trade hardcover states 'First printing' on the copyright page; first-state dust jacket carries the original price and is unclipped. Black cloth with red foil trident on the front board; Vonnegut's first published play.
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. True first is the 1971 Delacorte Press / Seymour Lawrence trade hardcover. A Samuel French acting edition (paperback) also exists and is a separate, later format, not the collected first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of Happy Birthday, Wanda June — 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.