The points of issue
Random House (New York) first edition, stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1. Cloth in priced dust jacket. This is the breakout selected volume issued as Collins was named US Poet Laureate; it gathered new poems with selections from his earlier University of Pittsburgh Press collections.
Is this the true first?
US true first and the 'first thus' for the new poems and the selected gathering. Signed copies are common but desirable.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. Later printings drop the 'First Edition' statement and advance the number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Sailing Alone Around the Room: New and Selected Poems a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Random House (New York) first edition, stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1. Cloth in priced dust jacket. This is the breakout selected volume issued as Collins was named US Poet Laureate; it gathered new poems with selections from his earlier University of Pittsburgh Press collections.
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 true first and the 'first thus' for the new poems and the selected gathering. Signed copies are common but desirable.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. Later printings drop the 'First Edition' statement and advance the number line.
I have a first edition of Sailing Alone Around the Room: New and Selected 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.