The points of issue
First printing, copyright page stating 'First published 1969'. Green cloth, gilt spine lettering, top edge stained pink, dust jacket designed by Michael Harvey. Collects nearly eighty essays and reviews; first-thus collection.
Is this the true first?
The Bodley Head London edition is the true first; a Viking (US) edition followed the same year.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue noted for the first printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Collected Essays a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing, copyright page stating 'First published 1969'. Green cloth, gilt spine lettering, top edge stained pink, dust jacket designed by Michael Harvey. Collects nearly eighty essays and reviews; first-thus collection.
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 Bodley Head London edition is the true first; a Viking (US) edition followed the same year.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue noted for the first printing.
I have a first edition of Collected Essays — 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.