The points of issue
Won the 1960 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, a confessional landmark. First printing: Alfred A. Knopf, 1959, copyright page stating 'First published April 13, 1959' with the Borzoi device; an edition of 1500 copies, in dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf (1959) is the clear true first. The Marvell Press (Hessle, Yorkshire) edition is dated 1960 and is the first English edition; it does not compete with Knopf for precedence.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Heart's Needle a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Won the 1960 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, a confessional landmark. First printing: Alfred A. Knopf, 1959, copyright page stating 'First published April 13, 1959' with the Borzoi device; an edition of 1500 copies, in dust jacket.
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 Knopf (1959) is the clear true first. The Marvell Press (Hessle, Yorkshire) edition is dated 1960 and is the first English edition; it does not compete with Knopf for precedence.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club.
I have a first edition of Heart's Needle — 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.