The points of issue
Faber first edition in cloth with dust jacket; first printing so identified by a full number line ending in '1' on the copyright page (Faber's standard). A signed/limited edition was also issued.
Is this the true first?
Faber UK (1998) is the true first; Farrar, Straus and Giroux US edition (1998) is the first American. The signed limited edition is the premium state. Hughes's response to his marriage with Plath; a major modern collectible.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Not a book club. Verify the Faber number line ('1' present) for the UK first; distinguish from the FSG US first by imprint.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Birthday Letters a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Faber first edition in cloth with dust jacket; first printing so identified by a full number line ending in '1' on the copyright page (Faber's standard). A signed/limited edition was also issued.
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. Faber UK (1998) is the true first; Farrar, Straus and Giroux US edition (1998) is the first American. The signed limited edition is the premium state. Hughes's response to his marriage with Plath; a major modern collectible.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Not a book club. Verify the Faber number line ('1' present) for the UK first; distinguish from the FSG US first by imprint.
I have a first edition of Birthday Letters — 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.