The points of issue
New Directions first US edition, 1968, first printing so stated; issued in cloth and in wrappers. The London Fulcrum Press hardcover (1967, beige cloth) precedes it; the four-section structure (Western mountain country; Japan; India; return to the West) is the same, but the US New Directions edition adds further poems and a section of Miyazawa Kenji translations not in the Fulcrum text, so contents differ.
Is this the true first?
The true first is the UK Fulcrum Press edition (London, 1967); the US New Directions edition (1968) follows and is textually expanded. Which is 'wanted' depends on the goal: Fulcrum for absolute priority, New Directions for the fuller authorized text.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition is the issue here. The real crux is UK Fulcrum (1967, true first) vs US New Directions (1968, expanded), and within New Directions, cloth vs wrappers.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Back Country a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: New Directions first US edition, 1968, first printing so stated; issued in cloth and in wrappers. The London Fulcrum Press hardcover (1967, beige cloth) precedes it; the four-section structure (Western mountain country; Japan; India; return to the West) is the same, but the US New Directions edition adds further poems and a section of Miyazawa Kenji translations not in the Fulcrum text, so contents differ.
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 true first is the UK Fulcrum Press edition (London, 1967); the US New Directions edition (1968) follows and is textually expanded. Which is 'wanted' depends on the goal: Fulcrum for absolute priority, New Directions for the fuller authorized text.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition is the issue here. The real crux is UK Fulcrum (1967, true first) vs US New Directions (1968, expanded), and within New Directions, cloth vs wrappers.
I have a first edition of The Back Country — 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.