The points of issue
Ecco Press, New York, 1984. The true first is the clothbound hardcover in quarter black cloth over red boards with red spine lettering, 'first edition' stated on the copyright page, in an illustrated dust jacket priced on the flap. A slim volume of about 101 pages; Wolff's first book-length fiction.
Is this the true first?
The US Ecco Press hardcover of 1984 is the true first, with 'first edition' stated on the copyright page. It won the 1985 PEN/Faulkner Award.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue. The earlier record's claim of a simultaneous Ecco paperback at first publication is not supported; the Ecco paperback appeared later (1990). The collectible first is the 1984 clothbound hardcover.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Barracks Thief a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Ecco Press, New York, 1984. The true first is the clothbound hardcover in quarter black cloth over red boards with red spine lettering, 'first edition' stated on the copyright page, in an illustrated dust jacket priced on the flap. A slim volume of about 101 pages; Wolff's first book-length fiction.
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 Ecco Press hardcover of 1984 is the true first, with 'first edition' stated on the copyright page. It won the 1985 PEN/Faulkner Award.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue. The earlier record's claim of a simultaneous Ecco paperback at first publication is not supported; the Ecco paperback appeared later (1990). The collectible first is the 1984 clothbound hardcover.
I have a first edition of The Barracks Thief — 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.