The points of issue
Walker's first book. Published by Harcourt, Brace & World in 1968; cloth-backed boards, 81 pp. Copyright page carries the year and a stated First edition with no later-printing statement. Original dust jacket with the price unclipped.
Is this the true first?
US Harcourt, Brace & World 1968 is the true first; no simultaneous UK edition. The author's debut, scarce in a fine jacket.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the First edition statement and add a printing line; price-clipped or facsimile jackets are common on resold copies.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Once: Poems a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Walker's first book. Published by Harcourt, Brace & World in 1968; cloth-backed boards, 81 pp. Copyright page carries the year and a stated First edition with no later-printing statement. Original dust jacket with the price unclipped.
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 & World 1968 is the true first; no simultaneous UK edition. The author's debut, scarce in a fine jacket.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings drop the First edition statement and add a printing line; price-clipped or facsimile jackets are common on resold copies.
I have a first edition of Once: 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.