The points of issue
First printing of Book One: New Directions, 1946, limited to 1000 copies, printed for New Directions by the Van Vechten Press, Metuchen, New Jersey; bound in beige cloth with black design and gilt lettering, in dust jacket. Each of the five Books (1946-1958) is a separate first; the first four were limited to 1000 copies, the fifth to 3000.
Is this the true first?
US New Directions is the true first; no prior UK edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue. The one-volume collected 'Paterson' is a later publication.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Paterson (Book One) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of Book One: New Directions, 1946, limited to 1000 copies, printed for New Directions by the Van Vechten Press, Metuchen, New Jersey; bound in beige cloth with black design and gilt lettering, in dust jacket. Each of the five Books (1946-1958) is a separate first; the first four were limited to 1000 copies, the fifth to 3000.
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 New Directions is the true first; no prior UK edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue. The one-volume collected 'Paterson' is a later publication.
I have a first edition of Paterson (Book One) — 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.