The points of issue
Won the 1955 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and the 1955 National Book Award. First printing carries 'First Edition' on the copyright page beneath the Borzoi device. Published 1 October 1954 to mark Stevens's seventy-fifth birthday; rushed into print, the first printing is noted for containing numerous textual errors.
Is this the true first?
The US Knopf edition is the true first; there is no prior UK edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition. Later printings drop the 'First Edition' statement and add a printing history.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Collected Poems a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Won the 1955 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and the 1955 National Book Award. First printing carries 'First Edition' on the copyright page beneath the Borzoi device. Published 1 October 1954 to mark Stevens's seventy-fifth birthday; rushed into print, the first printing is noted for containing numerous textual errors.
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 US Knopf edition is the true first; there is no prior UK edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition. Later printings drop the 'First Edition' statement and add a printing history.
I have a first edition of Collected 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.