# Is "The Ballad of the Burglar of Babylon" by Elizabeth Bishop a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Ballad of the Burglar of Babylon by Elizabeth Bishop (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1968) is identified by: Children's picture book, illustrated by Ann Grifalconi (woodcut designs, printed in color throughout). US FSG; first separate, illustrated book appearance of the ballad.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Children's picture book, illustrated by Ann Grifalconi (woodcut designs, printed in color throughout)
- Oatmeal cloth boards with front-cover vignette
- 44 pages; illustrated dust jacket
- First edition, first printing, FSG
- Publisher imprint reads Farrar, Straus & Giroux
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Elizabeth Bishop |
| Publisher | Farrar, Straus & Giroux |
| Year | 1968 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Children's picture book, illustrated by Ann Grifalconi (woodcut designs, printed in color… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Children's picture book, illustrated by Ann Grifalconi (woodcut designs, printed in color throughout). Oatmeal cloth boards with front-cover vignette; 44 pages; illustrated dust jacket. First edition, first printing, FSG.

## Is this the true first?
US FSG; first separate, illustrated book appearance of the ballad. Scarce, especially in fine condition.

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

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Ballad of the Burglar of Babylon* by Elizabeth Bishop a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-ballad-of-the-burglar-of-babylon
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.