The points of issue
UK Faber first edition, first printing, 1970: black cloth lettered in gilt, in the pictorial dust jacket designed by Leonard Baskin, jacket priced one pound net and unclipped. The first printing carries the original (shorter) contents with no reprint statement. The 1972 reprint adds seven poems, so the 1970 first is identified by the original contents and the absence of any reprint or added-poem indication.
Is this the true first?
The UK Faber edition (1970) is the true first. The American Harper edition (1971) follows. The 1972 enlarged reprint, which adds seven poems, and the later signed limited edition are separate.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition. The principal confusion is the enlarged 1972 reprint, distinguished by the seven added poems and its reprint statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Crow a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Faber first edition, first printing, 1970: black cloth lettered in gilt, in the pictorial dust jacket designed by Leonard Baskin, jacket priced one pound net and unclipped. The first printing carries the original (shorter) contents with no reprint statement. The 1972 reprint adds seven poems, so the 1970 first is identified by the original contents and the absence of any reprint or added-poem indication.
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 UK Faber edition (1970) is the true first. The American Harper edition (1971) follows. The 1972 enlarged reprint, which adds seven poems, and the later signed limited edition are separate.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition. The principal confusion is the enlarged 1972 reprint, distinguished by the seven added poems and its reprint statement.
I have a first edition of Crow — 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.