The points of issue
Sexton's third book. Houghton Mifflin first printing, identified by the 'First Printing' statement on the copyright page. Won the 1967 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. Dust jacket priced on the flap; later states should be checked against the printing line.
Is this the true first?
US true first and Pulitzer winner; precedes the UK Oxford University Press edition that followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. The trap is later Houghton Mifflin printings carrying a printing statement rather than the clean first-printing line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Live or Die a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Sexton's third book. Houghton Mifflin first printing, identified by the 'First Printing' statement on the copyright page. Won the 1967 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. Dust jacket priced on the flap; later states should be checked against the printing line.
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 true first and Pulitzer winner; precedes the UK Oxford University Press edition that followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. The trap is later Houghton Mifflin printings carrying a printing statement rather than the clean first-printing line.
I have a first edition of Live or Die — 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.