The points of issue
Faber first (Tabor A5a), published 11 March 1965, ~3,100 copies; dust jacket designed by Berthold Wolpe. No 'first published' qualifier beyond the 1965 date; later Faber impressions are noted on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
The Faber 1965 UK edition is the true first. The first US edition is Harper & Row, 1966, with an introduction by Robert Lowell (the Lowell intro is NOT in the UK first) — first US printing has the 'D-Q' code on the copyright page. Both follow Ted Hughes's reordering; neither matches Plath's intended manuscript (later issued as 'Ariel: The Restored Edition,' 2004 — a 'first thus').
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book-club edition. Tell the UK true first from the US first by the presence/absence of Lowell's introduction (US only) and publisher imprint; later printings carry impression statements.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Ariel a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Faber first (Tabor A5a), published 11 March 1965, ~3,100 copies; dust jacket designed by Berthold Wolpe. No 'first published' qualifier beyond the 1965 date; later Faber impressions are noted on the copyright page.
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. The Faber 1965 UK edition is the true first. The first US edition is Harper & Row, 1966, with an introduction by Robert Lowell (the Lowell intro is NOT in the UK first) — first US printing has the 'D-Q' code on the copyright page. Both follow Ted Hughes's reordering; neither matches Plath's intended
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No significant book-club edition. Tell the UK true first from the US first by the presence/absence of Lowell's introduction (US only) and publisher imprint; later printings carry impression statements.
I have a first edition of Ariel — 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.