# Is "Observations" by Marianne Moore a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Observations by Marianne Moore (The Dial Press, 1924) is identified by: Moore's first authorized American book, gathering the 1921 poems plus roughly thirty additional pieces, and winner of the 1924 Dial Award. The Egoist Press 'Poems' (London, 1921) is Moore's true first book chronologically, arranged without her consent by H.D.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Moore's first authorized American book, gathering the 1921 poems plus roughly thirty additional pieces, and winner of the 1924 Dial Award
- First printing: The Dial Press, New York, 1924, a small edition bound in three-quarter black cloth over boards with a printed paper spine label; it carries no later-printing statement
- Publisher imprint reads The Dial Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Marianne Moore |
| Publisher | The Dial Press |
| Year | 1924 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Poetry |
| Key point | Moore's first authorized American book, gathering the 1921 poems plus roughly thirty additional pieces, and winner of the 1924 Dial Award |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Moore's first authorized American book, gathering the 1921 poems plus roughly thirty additional pieces, and winner of the 1924 Dial Award. First printing: The Dial Press, New York, 1924, a small edition bound in three-quarter black cloth over boards with a printed paper spine label; it carries no later-printing statement.

## Is this the true first?
The Egoist Press 'Poems' (London, 1921) is Moore's true first book chronologically, arranged without her consent by H.D. and Bryher; 'Observations' (Dial, 1924) is her first authorized book. Catalogue both honestly.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club. The 1925 second edition of Observations is slightly revised, distinguished by its edition/printing statement and by changes to the contents; the 1924 first has no such statement.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Observations* by Marianne Moore a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/observations
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.