The points of issue
Merwin's first book, selected by W. H. Auden for the Yale Series of Younger Poets (volume 49) with an Auden foreword. Yale University Press first edition in dust jacket; scarce in a fine jacket.
Is this the true first?
US true first; a Yale Younger Poets volume with Auden selection and foreword. An Auden-association debut.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. Later Yale printings carry printing notes distinguishing them from the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Mask for Janus a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Merwin's first book, selected by W. H. Auden for the Yale Series of Younger Poets (volume 49) with an Auden foreword. Yale University Press first edition in dust jacket; scarce in a fine 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. US true first; a Yale Younger Poets volume with Auden selection and foreword. An Auden-association debut.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. Later Yale printings carry printing notes distinguishing them from the first.
I have a first edition of A Mask for Janus — 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.