The points of issue
Poetry; Dickey's third collection. Per the Wesleyan first-printing convention, issued simultaneously in cloth (light grey, spine stamped in black and green) and in wrappers. The cloth first printing was a small impression in light grey cloth with a price-printed dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US first; the cloth issue is the collected hardcover form, issued at the same time as the wrappered issue.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition; the distinction collectors track is cloth versus wrappers, both genuine first-issue formats.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Helmets a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Poetry; Dickey's third collection. Per the Wesleyan first-printing convention, issued simultaneously in cloth (light grey, spine stamped in black and green) and in wrappers. The cloth first printing was a small impression in light grey cloth with a price-printed 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 first; the cloth issue is the collected hardcover form, issued at the same time as the wrappered issue.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition; the distinction collectors track is cloth versus wrappers, both genuine first-issue formats.
I have a first edition of Helmets — 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.