The points of issue
Illustrated biography of 399 pages in boards with gilt spine, in dust jacket with the price present on the flap. First impression carries a full descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
The UK Sinclair-Stevenson edition of 1995 is the true first, preceding the US Alfred A. Knopf edition published 26 March 1996.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions break the number line or state a higher impression.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Blake a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Illustrated biography of 399 pages in boards with gilt spine, in dust jacket with the price present on the flap. First impression carries a full descending number line ending in 1 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 UK Sinclair-Stevenson edition of 1995 is the true first, preceding the US Alfred A. Knopf edition published 26 March 1996.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions break the number line or state a higher impression.
I have a first edition of Blake — 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.