The points of issue
Won the 1931 Pulitzer Prize. The signed limited edition of 1,000 copies was published by Random House, signed by Frost on the half-title and hand-numbered on the limitation leaf, and preceded the Holt trade edition by roughly four weeks; it was printed on heavy laid paper in tan linen boards with a leather spine label. The Henry Holt first trade edition (1930) was printed from the same Random House plates; its first state carries the uncorrected reading 'laces' for 'faces' at page 128, line 8, corrected in later printings.
Is this the true first?
The Random House signed limited edition of 1,000 copies is the true first and precedes the Henry Holt first trade edition. The record's earlier attribution of the limited edition to Holt was incorrect; Holt issued the trade edition only.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition. The later 'Complete Poems' (1949) is a separate, later book and should not be confused with this collection.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Collected Poems a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Won the 1931 Pulitzer Prize. The signed limited edition of 1,000 copies was published by Random House, signed by Frost on the half-title and hand-numbered on the limitation leaf, and preceded the Holt trade edition by roughly four weeks; it was printed on heavy laid paper in tan linen boards with a leather spine label. The Henry Holt first trade edition (1930) was printed from the same Random House plates; its first state carries the uncorrected reading 'laces' for 'faces' at page 128, line 8, corrected in later printings.
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 Random House signed limited edition of 1,000 copies is the true first and precedes the Henry Holt first trade edition. The record's earlier attribution of the limited edition to Holt was incorrect; Holt issued the trade edition only.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition. The later 'Complete Poems' (1949) is a separate, later book and should not be confused with this collection.
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.