The points of issue
True first is the paperback original, Fawcett Gold Medal #286 (1953), 25 cents. Paperback wraps only. Gold Medal logo and number 286; basis for the film 'The Hot Spot.' First printing has the original price and no later-printing statement.
Is this the true first?
Paperback is the true first. Reissued as 'The Hot Spot' (film tie-in, after 1990); tie-in editions are reprints/first-thus.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. The Gold Medal #286 titled 'Hell Hath No Fury' is the true first; 'The Hot Spot' retitlings postdate the 1990 film.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Hell Hath No Fury (The Hot Spot) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the paperback original, Fawcett Gold Medal #286 (1953), 25 cents. Paperback wraps only. Gold Medal logo and number 286; basis for the film 'The Hot Spot.' First printing has the original price and no later-printing statement.
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. Paperback is the true first. Reissued as 'The Hot Spot' (film tie-in, after 1990); tie-in editions are reprints/first-thus.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. The Gold Medal #286 titled 'Hell Hath No Fury' is the true first; 'The Hot Spot' retitlings postdate the 1990 film.
I have a first edition of Hell Hath No Fury (The Hot Spot) — 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.