The points of issue
True first is the Encore Publishing Co. (London) edition in stiff printed wrappers, 1959, preceding any Methuen issue. This was Pinter's first full-length play in print. The Methuen 1960 hardback was issued as the collection 'The Birthday Party and Other Plays' (not a stand-alone title), so it is both a later printing and a different made-up book.
Is this the true first?
True first is the Encore wrappers edition (1959). The 1960 Methuen hardback is the first appearance in cloth but is the collected volume 'The Birthday Party and Other Plays,' which makes it a separate first-thus rather than simply a hardback of the same book. The play famously flopped in its 1958 premiere, so early printings are scarce.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. Distinguish the Encore wrappers (true first) from the Methuen 1960 collection in cloth; later Methuen impressions add impression statements.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Birthday Party a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the Encore Publishing Co. (London) edition in stiff printed wrappers, 1959, preceding any Methuen issue. This was Pinter's first full-length play in print. The Methuen 1960 hardback was issued as the collection 'The Birthday Party and Other Plays' (not a stand-alone title), so it is both a later printing and a different made-up book.
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 Encore wrappers edition (1959). The 1960 Methuen hardback is the first appearance in cloth but is the collected volume 'The Birthday Party and Other Plays,' which makes it a separate first-thus rather than simply a hardback of the same book. The play famously flopped in its 1958 pr
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. Distinguish the Encore wrappers (true first) from the Methuen 1960 collection in cloth; later Methuen impressions add impression statements.
I have a first edition of The Birthday Party — 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.