The points of issue
Updike's first novel. 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page. Quarter orange cloth over blue paper-covered boards, spine lettered in silver and gilt, top edge orange, 185 pages. First-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap with a single paragraph of text on the rear flap; jacket design by Harry Ford.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf is the true first edition and precedes the UK Victor Gollancz edition of 1959.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club copies lack the 'FIRST EDITION' statement and the printed jacket price and typically carry a blind-stamped dot or square on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Poorhouse Fair a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Updike's first novel. 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page. Quarter orange cloth over blue paper-covered boards, spine lettered in silver and gilt, top edge orange, 185 pages. First-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap with a single paragraph of text on the rear flap; jacket design by Harry Ford.
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 Knopf is the true first edition and precedes the UK Victor Gollancz edition of 1959.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club copies lack the 'FIRST EDITION' statement and the printed jacket price and typically carry a blind-stamped dot or square on the rear board.
I have a first edition of The Poorhouse Fair — 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.