# Is "Cold Dogs in the Courtyard" by Charles Bukowski a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Cold Dogs in the Courtyard by Charles Bukowski (Literary Times / Cyfoeth, 1965) is identified by: Literary Times / Cyfoeth Publications, Chicago, 1965; edition of 500 copies, letterpress. True first is the 1965 Literary Times / Cyfoeth wrappered chapbook.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Literary Times / Cyfoeth Publications, Chicago, 1965; edition of 500 copies, letterpress
- Saddle-stapled printed and illustrated wrappers, 24 pp., cover illustration by Betsy Millam, with a foreword by Bukowski; gathers 13 poems
- Notably the only chapbook in which Bukowski selected his own poems
- Publisher imprint reads Literary Times / Cyfoeth
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Charles Bukowski |
| Publisher | Literary Times / Cyfoeth |
| Year | 1965 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Literary Times / Cyfoeth Publications, Chicago, 1965; edition of 500 copies, letterpress |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Literary Times / Cyfoeth Publications, Chicago, 1965; edition of 500 copies, letterpress. Saddle-stapled printed and illustrated wrappers, 24 pp., cover illustration by Betsy Millam, with a foreword by Bukowski; gathers 13 poems. Notably the only chapbook in which Bukowski selected his own poems.

## Is this the true first?
True first is the 1965 Literary Times / Cyfoeth wrappered chapbook.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Cold Dogs in the Courtyard* by Charles Bukowski a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/cold-dogs-in-the-courtyard
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.