The points of issue
New Directions, New York, 1971. First printing with no later-printing statement on the copyright page; orange-red cloth, spine lettered in gilt; dust jacket designed by Gertrude Huston, carrying the original price to the flap.
Is this the true first?
The US New Directions edition is the true first. First volume of the trilogy with 'Death, Sleep and the Traveler' (1974) and 'Travesty' (1976).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later New Directions printings add a printing statement to the copyright page; no major book-club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Blood Oranges a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: New Directions, New York, 1971. First printing with no later-printing statement on the copyright page; orange-red cloth, spine lettered in gilt; dust jacket designed by Gertrude Huston, carrying the original price to the flap.
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 US New Directions edition is the true first. First volume of the trilogy with 'Death, Sleep and the Traveler' (1974) and 'Travesty' (1976).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later New Directions printings add a printing statement to the copyright page; no major book-club edition.
I have a first edition of The Blood Oranges — 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.