The points of issue
Won the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, the first Pulitzer awarded to an African American author. First printing: Harper & Brothers, 1949, identified by the Harper letter code 'F-Y' on the copyright page (F = June month, Y = 1949 year) together with the 'FIRST EDITION' statement, in dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Harper & Brothers (1949) is the true first; no prior UK edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue. The first printing is identified by the Harper code 'F-Y' (June 1949) plus 'FIRST EDITION'; later printings change the letter code.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Annie Allen a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Won the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, the first Pulitzer awarded to an African American author. First printing: Harper & Brothers, 1949, identified by the Harper letter code 'F-Y' on the copyright page (F = June month, Y = 1949 year) together with the 'FIRST EDITION' statement, in dust 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 Harper & Brothers (1949) is the true first; no prior UK edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue. The first printing is identified by the Harper code 'F-Y' (June 1949) plus 'FIRST EDITION'; later printings change the letter code.
I have a first edition of Annie Allen — 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.