# Is "World's Fair" by E. L. Doctorow a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of World's Fair by E. L. Doctorow (Random House, 1985) is identified by: First Edition stated on the copyright page together with the Random House number line beginning with 2 (reading 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1); dust jacket carries the printed price. The US Random House hardcover of 1985 is the true first; it won the 1986 fiction award.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First Edition stated on the copyright page together with the Random House number line beginning with 2 (reading 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1); dust jacket carries the printed price
- Removal of the First Edition statement indicates a later printing
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | E. L. Doctorow |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1985 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First Edition stated on the copyright page together with the Random House number line beginning with 2 (reading 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1); dust… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First Edition stated on the copyright page together with the Random House number line beginning with 2 (reading 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1); dust jacket carries the printed price. Removal of the First Edition statement indicates a later printing.

## Is this the true first?
The US Random House hardcover of 1985 is the true first; it won the 1986 fiction award. A separate signed limited edition was also issued.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the first-edition statement, are smaller, have a blind-stamped rear board, and carry an unpriced jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *World's Fair* by E. L. Doctorow a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/worlds-fair
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.