The points of issue
First printing identified by a 'First printing, 1971' statement on the copyright page; oblong illustrated children's book with collage illustrations by the author, in cloth with a priced dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1971 Farrar, Straus & Giroux hardcover. Barthelme's only children's book, illustrated with the author's own collages of nineteenth-century engravings.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Slightly Irregular Fire Engine, or The Hithering Thithering Djinn a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing identified by a 'First printing, 1971' statement on the copyright page; oblong illustrated children's book with collage illustrations by the author, in cloth with a priced dust jacket.
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 1971 Farrar, Straus & Giroux hardcover. Barthelme's only children's book, illustrated with the author's own collages of nineteenth-century engravings.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of The Slightly Irregular Fire Engine, or The Hithering Thithering Djinn — 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.