The points of issue
'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with a number line ending in '2' (Random House practice of 1970-2002; a line ending in '1' indicates a LATER printing). Issued simultaneously in cloth and in wraps; priced.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1973 Random House edition, issued in both cloth and wrappers.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Chattanooga: Poems a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with a number line ending in '2' (Random House practice of 1970-2002; a line ending in '1' indicates a LATER printing). Issued simultaneously in cloth and in wraps; priced.
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. True first is the 1973 Random House edition, issued in both cloth and wrappers.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of Chattanooga: Poems — 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.