The points of issue
Volume 17 of Ecco's American Poetry Series; 68 pp with deckled edges; dark cloth over boards (described by dealers as burgundy to dark purple), gilt spine stamping; title blind-stamped upside down on the rear board; green dust jacket with black lettering and a black-and-white photo of Hass on the rear; title page undated, copyright page dated 1979; the first printing has no remainder mark.
Is this the true first?
The US Ecco edition is the true first. Issued in both hardcover and wrappers; the hardcover is the collector's first. Signed copies exist. Praise won the William Carlos Williams Award.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A remainder mark or a stated later printing indicates a later state; the softcover is a true-first issue but ranks below the cloth.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Praise a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Volume 17 of Ecco's American Poetry Series; 68 pp with deckled edges; dark cloth over boards (described by dealers as burgundy to dark purple), gilt spine stamping; title blind-stamped upside down on the rear board; green dust jacket with black lettering and a black-and-white photo of Hass on the rear; title page undated, copyright page dated 1979; the first printing has no remainder mark.
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. The US Ecco edition is the true first. Issued in both hardcover and wrappers; the hardcover is the collector's first. Signed copies exist. Praise won the William Carlos Williams Award.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A remainder mark or a stated later printing indicates a later state; the softcover is a true-first issue but ranks below the cloth.
I have a first edition of Praise — 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.