The points of issue
Won the 1989 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, Wilbur's second. First printing: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988, stating 'First edition' with a number line, in dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (1988) is the true first; the Faber (London) edition is the first English.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club. The number line advances on later printings.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of New and Collected Poems a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Won the 1989 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, Wilbur's second. First printing: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988, stating 'First edition' with a number line, 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 Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (1988) is the true first; the Faber (London) edition is the first English.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club. The number line advances on later printings.
I have a first edition of New and Collected Poems — 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.