The points of issue
Poetry. Issued simultaneously in cloth (with dust jacket) and in wrappers per Wesleyan University Press practice; the cloth/wrappers distinction is the issue point.
Is this the true first?
US first; Dickey's first book published under his own name alone (his verse first appeared in 'Poets of Today VII', 1960). Cloth and wrappers were issued simultaneously.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue; cloth versus wrappers is the relevant issue distinction.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Drowning with Others a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Poetry. Issued simultaneously in cloth (with dust jacket) and in wrappers per Wesleyan University Press practice; the cloth/wrappers distinction is the issue point.
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. US first; Dickey's first book published under his own name alone (his verse first appeared in 'Poets of Today VII', 1960). Cloth and wrappers were issued simultaneously.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue; cloth versus wrappers is the relevant issue distinction.
I have a first edition of Drowning with Others — 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.