The points of issue
Poetry. A signed limited edition of 250 copies (two-toned cloth, slipcased, with a signed limitation leaf) precedes the trade issue. The trade first edition has "First Edition" stated on the copyright page in a price-printed dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
The true first is the signed limited edition of 250 copies, which precedes the stated "First Edition" trade issue. Both are 1970 Doubleday, Garden City.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition confirmed; later trade impressions lack the "First Edition" statement. The key precedence point is the signed limited issue over the trade issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Eye-Beaters, Blood, Victory, Madness, Buckhead and Mercy a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Poetry. A signed limited edition of 250 copies (two-toned cloth, slipcased, with a signed limitation leaf) precedes the trade issue. The trade first edition has "First Edition" stated on the copyright page in a price-printed dust jacket.
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 signed limited edition of 250 copies, which precedes the stated "First Edition" trade issue. Both are 1970 Doubleday, Garden City.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition confirmed; later trade impressions lack the "First Edition" statement. The key precedence point is the signed limited issue over the trade issue.
I have a first edition of The Eye-Beaters, Blood, Victory, Madness, Buckhead and Mercy — 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.