# Is "Chattanooga: Poems" by Ishmael Reed a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Chattanooga: Poems by Ishmael Reed (Random House, 1973) is identified by: '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). True first is the 1973 Random House edition, issued in both cloth and wrappers.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- '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
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ishmael Reed |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1973 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | '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'… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## 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.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Chattanooga: Poems* by Ishmael Reed a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/chattanooga-poems
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.