# Is "Routines" by Lawrence Ferlinghetti a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Routines by Lawrence Ferlinghetti (New Directions, 1964) is identified by: Paperback original in pictorial wrappers designed by Roland Topor (cover and internal drawings by Topor); first printing with no statement of later printing. True first is the 1964 New Directions wrappered paperback original.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Thirteen short plays
- Paperback original in pictorial wrappers designed by Roland Topor (cover and internal drawings by Topor); first printing with no statement of later printing
- Publisher imprint reads New Directions
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Lawrence Ferlinghetti |
| Publisher | New Directions |
| Year | 1964 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Thirteen short plays |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Thirteen short plays. Paperback original in pictorial wrappers designed by Roland Topor (cover and internal drawings by Topor); first printing with no statement of later printing.

## Is this the true first?
True first is the 1964 New Directions wrappered paperback original.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Routines* by Lawrence Ferlinghetti a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/routines
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.