The points of issue
First edition has the HBJ imprint with the first-printing letter code beginning at 'B' (HBJ code). Original jacket priced the printed price. Pulitzer Prize winner.
Is this the true first?
US Harcourt Brace Jovanovich is the true first; UK Women's Press (1983) is later. The HBJ first-printing letter code is the point.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club edition lacks the HBJ code, has a blind-stamp on the rear board, and uses bulkier paper with a price-absent jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Color Purple a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition has the HBJ imprint with the first-printing letter code beginning at 'B' (HBJ code). Original jacket priced the printed price. Pulitzer Prize winner.
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. US Harcourt Brace Jovanovich is the true first; UK Women's Press (1983) is later. The HBJ first-printing letter code is the point.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club edition lacks the HBJ code, has a blind-stamp on the rear board, and uses bulkier paper with a price-absent jacket.
I have a first edition of The Color Purple — 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.