Identifying a True First of A Fan's Notes
Correctly identifying a true first printing of A Fan’s Notes is critical given the substantial value difference between the 1968 Harper & Row first edition and the numerous later editions that the book’s cult status has generated. The Vintage Contemporaries paperback reissue is the most commonly encountered edition and must not be confused with the hardcover first.
First Printing Points
Publisher: Harper & Row, New York Publication date: 1968 Copyright page: The definitive identification point. Look for first edition indicators per Harper & Row’s convention of the period. The absence of any “Second Printing” or later printing statement is essential. Binding: Cloth-covered boards Dust jacket: The original 1968 jacket design. The jacket is critical for full collectible value.
What Is Not a First Printing
Vintage Contemporaries paperback: The most commonly encountered edition of A Fan’s Notes, reissued as part of Vintage’s influential Contemporaries series. This paperback, while excellent for reading, has no first-edition collectible value.
Later Harper & Row printings: The book went through additional printings after the initial publication. Check the copyright page carefully for any printing indicators beyond the first.
Book club editions: Check for the typical book club indicators — no price on the dust jacket flap, possible blind stamp on the rear board.
British edition: A UK edition was published; it is not the true first.
Condition Assessment
Given the book’s modest commercial performance on initial publication, copies were not preserved with collector care. Expect the following condition challenges:
- Dust jackets: Many were discarded. Surviving jackets may show significant wear, fading, and chipping. Jacketed copies command a substantial premium.
- Boards: The cloth binding shows its age after fifty-plus years. Bumping and wear at the extremities are common.
- Text block: Foxing, toning, and prior ownership marks are frequently encountered.
Verification Protocol
For copies presented as signed first printings:
- Confirm first printing status via the copyright page
- Verify Harper & Row as publisher
- Assess dust jacket authenticity
- Authenticate the signature — Exley’s rarity and the values involved demand rigorous authentication
- Seek provenance documentation; the best Exley signed copies come with documented chains of ownership