The points of issue
Grove Press, New York, 1960, first US edition of this gathering, which collects 'Krapp's Last Tape' with other short dramatic pieces (about 141 pages). Issued in cloth and in Evergreen wrappers. For the title play specifically, the first book appearance is the Faber and Faber edition of the prior year.
Is this the true first?
For 'Krapp's Last Tape' itself, the first book publication is Faber and Faber's 'Krapp's Last Tape and Embers' (London, 1959); the play had earlier appeared in the periodical Evergreen Review in the summer of 1958. The Grove 1960 'Other Dramatic Pieces' volume is a later, more expansive American gathering, not the first appearance of the title play.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition is the collecting target. The crux is Faber UK 1959 versus the Grove 1960 gathering, and cloth versus Evergreen wrappers within the Grove issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Krapp's Last Tape and Other Dramatic Pieces a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Grove Press, New York, 1960, first US edition of this gathering, which collects 'Krapp's Last Tape' with other short dramatic pieces (about 141 pages). Issued in cloth and in Evergreen wrappers. For the title play specifically, the first book appearance is the Faber and Faber edition of the prior year.
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. For 'Krapp's Last Tape' itself, the first book publication is Faber and Faber's 'Krapp's Last Tape and Embers' (London, 1959); the play had earlier appeared in the periodical Evergreen Review in the summer of 1958. The Grove 1960 'Other Dramatic Pieces' volume is a later, more expansive American gat
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition is the collecting target. The crux is Faber UK 1959 versus the Grove 1960 gathering, and cloth versus Evergreen wrappers within the Grove issue.
I have a first edition of Krapp's Last Tape and Other Dramatic Pieces — 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.