The points of issue
Fourth of the Wonderland Quartet. The 1971 Vanguard Press hardcover carries Oates's original ending; she revised the ending for the 1972 paperback, so the 1971 hardcover preserves a distinct earlier textual state. As with other Vanguard firsts, the first printing is identified by the absence of any later-printing notation on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
The US Vanguard Press 1971 hardcover is the true first and the only hardcover printing to carry the original, pre-revision ending; the revised ending first appeared in the 1972 paperback.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition has no price on the jacket flap and shows a blind-stamped rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Wonderland a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Fourth of the Wonderland Quartet. The 1971 Vanguard Press hardcover carries Oates's original ending; she revised the ending for the 1972 paperback, so the 1971 hardcover preserves a distinct earlier textual state. As with other Vanguard firsts, the first printing is identified by the absence of any later-printing notation on the copyright page.
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. The US Vanguard Press 1971 hardcover is the true first and the only hardcover printing to carry the original, pre-revision ending; the revised ending first appeared in the 1972 paperback.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book-club edition has no price on the jacket flap and shows a blind-stamped rear board.
I have a first edition of Wonderland — 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.