# Is "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" by Edward Albee a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee (Atheneum, 1962) is identified by: Copyright page states 'First Edition' (Atheneum's stated-first practice through the mid-1980s). US Atheneum 1962 is the true first (precedes the UK Jonathan Cape 1964 edition).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Copyright page states 'First Edition' (Atheneum's stated-first practice through the mid-1980s)
- Black cloth with the author's name blind-stamped on the front board, spine lettered in silver; top edge with a pinkish/red publisher's stain
- White typographic dust jacket designed by Harry Ford, with the printed price on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Atheneum
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Edward Albee |
| Publisher | Atheneum |
| Year | 1962 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Copyright page states 'First Edition' (Atheneum's stated-first practice through the mid-1980s) |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Copyright page states 'First Edition' (Atheneum's stated-first practice through the mid-1980s). Black cloth with the author's name blind-stamped on the front board, spine lettered in silver; top edge with a pinkish/red publisher's stain. Approx. 242 pp. White typographic dust jacket designed by Harry Ford, with the printed price on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
US Atheneum 1962 is the true first (precedes the UK Jonathan Cape 1964 edition). Albee frequently signed copies; signed firsts are inscribed or signed trade copies, not a separate state.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book Club Edition lacks the 'First Edition' statement, has a blind-stamp dot on the rear board, lighter or thinner boards, and an unpriced or clipped jacket. The combination of stated 'First Edition' plus the priced jacket plus the blind-stamped author name plus the pinkish/red top stain confirms the first printing.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?* by Edward Albee a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/whos-afraid-of-virginia-woolf
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.