The points of issue
Published 9 November 1893 by Elkin Mathews and John Lane at the Bodley Head. Limited to 500 ordinary copies plus 50 large-paper copies on handmade paper. Salmon-pink cloth boards with gilt lettering and floral cover design by Charles Ricketts; 1893 title page; Elkin Mathews and John Lane imprint. The 50 large-paper copies are the premier state.
Is this the true first?
The UK Bodley Head 1893 edition is the true first. The 50 large-paper copies are the superior state above the 500 ordinary copies.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later reprints are not the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Lady Windermere's Fan a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Published 9 November 1893 by Elkin Mathews and John Lane at the Bodley Head. Limited to 500 ordinary copies plus 50 large-paper copies on handmade paper. Salmon-pink cloth boards with gilt lettering and floral cover design by Charles Ricketts; 1893 title page; Elkin Mathews and John Lane imprint. The 50 large-paper copies are the premier state.
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 UK Bodley Head 1893 edition is the true first. The 50 large-paper copies are the superior state above the 500 ordinary copies.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later reprints are not the first.
I have a first edition of Lady Windermere's Fan — 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.