The points of issue
First printing, 68 pp, quarter-cloth and paper over boards (gray and black, stamped in green) in printed dust jacket. Identify the first printing by the full number line on the copyright page; a reduced line indicates a later printing. ISBN 0880012471.
Is this the true first?
US Ecco true first. Dealer copies of confirmed firsts describe the quarter-cloth/boards binding in the original printed jacket. Won the inaugural Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry from the Library of Congress.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A reduced number line indicates a later printing; no book-club issue of note.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Ararat a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing, 68 pp, quarter-cloth and paper over boards (gray and black, stamped in green) in printed dust jacket. Identify the first printing by the full number line on the copyright page; a reduced line indicates a later printing. ISBN 0880012471.
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 Ecco true first. Dealer copies of confirmed firsts describe the quarter-cloth/boards binding in the original printed jacket. Won the inaugural Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry from the Library of Congress.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A reduced number line indicates a later printing; no book-club issue of note.
I have a first edition of Ararat — 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.