The points of issue
First edition, first printing; priced dust jacket (5.95 on front flap). Off-white cloth with brown cloth spine. Full title on title page is Pricksongs & Descants: Fictions. Coover's first story collection, including The Babysitter.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1969 E.P. Dutton edition. UK: Jonathan Cape, 1971.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issue is typically blind-stamped on the rear board and has a jacket lacking the printed price; verify the priced jacket on the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Pricksongs & Descants a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing; priced dust jacket (5.95 on front flap). Off-white cloth with brown cloth spine. Full title on title page is Pricksongs & Descants: Fictions. Coover's first story collection, including The Babysitter.
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. True first is the 1969 E.P. Dutton edition. UK: Jonathan Cape, 1971.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club issue is typically blind-stamped on the rear board and has a jacket lacking the printed price; verify the priced jacket on the trade first.
I have a first edition of Pricksongs & Descants — 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.