The points of issue
Farrar, Straus and Giroux first edition, first printing; the first complete one-volume gathering of all 385 Dream Songs (combining 77 Dream Songs and His Toy, His Dream, His Rest); navy/black cloth with gilt spine titles, green endpapers; xx, 427 pages; pictorial dust jacket priced at the original price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US true first complete edition (first thus for the unified text). Signed copies scarce given Berryman's death in 1972.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition; later printings carry a printing statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Dream Songs a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Farrar, Straus and Giroux first edition, first printing; the first complete one-volume gathering of all 385 Dream Songs (combining 77 Dream Songs and His Toy, His Dream, His Rest); navy/black cloth with gilt spine titles, green endpapers; xx, 427 pages; pictorial dust jacket priced at the original price on the front 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. US true first complete edition (first thus for the unified text). Signed copies scarce given Berryman's death in 1972.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition; later printings carry a printing statement.
I have a first edition of The Dream Songs — 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.