The points of issue
Pocket Poets Series No. 30, printed wrappers. First printing lacks a later-printing statement; original price on rear cover. Won the National Book Award (1974).
Is this the true first?
City Lights US (1972) is the true first. Confirm Pocket Poets No. 30 and first-printing copyright page.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Not a book club. Later printings noted on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Fall of America: Poems of These States 1965–1971 a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Pocket Poets Series No. 30, printed wrappers. First printing lacks a later-printing statement; original price on rear cover. Won the National Book Award (1974).
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. City Lights US (1972) is the true first. Confirm Pocket Poets No. 30 and first-printing copyright page.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Not a book club. Later printings noted on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of The Fall of America: Poems of These States 1965–1971 — 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.