The points of issue
Jargon/Corinth Books first collected edition, 1960 (Jonathan Williams's Jargon Society in association with Corinth), first printing. Issued primarily in decorated wrappers with a map design; a small hardcover binding was also done (about 75 numbered copies, plus 26 lettered-and-signed copies). It gathers and revises material first issued piecemeal: The Maximus Poems / 1-10 (Jargon 7, 1953) and The Maximus Poems / 11-22 (Jargon 9, 1956).
Is this the true first?
The true first appearances are the earlier piecemeal installments, The Maximus Poems / 1-10 (1953) and / 11-22 (1956), printed by hand letterpress in Stuttgart, Germany (Dr. Cantz'sche Druckerei) for Jonathan Williams's Jargon imprint, in small editions (about 300 and 350 copies). The 1960 Jargon/Corinth volume is the first collected gathering, not the first appearance; choose by goal.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. The crux is the early hand-printed Stuttgart installments (1953, 1956) vs the 1960 first collected edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Maximus Poems a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Jargon/Corinth Books first collected edition, 1960 (Jonathan Williams's Jargon Society in association with Corinth), first printing. Issued primarily in decorated wrappers with a map design; a small hardcover binding was also done (about 75 numbered copies, plus 26 lettered-and-signed copies). It gathers and revises material first issued piecemeal: The Maximus Poems / 1-10 (Jargon 7, 1953) and The Maximus Poems / 11-22 (Jargon 9, 1956).
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 appearances are the earlier piecemeal installments, The Maximus Poems / 1-10 (1953) and / 11-22 (1956), printed by hand letterpress in Stuttgart, Germany (Dr. Cantz'sche Druckerei) for Jonathan Williams's Jargon imprint, in small editions (about 300 and 350 copies). The 1960 Jargon/Co
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. The crux is the early hand-printed Stuttgart installments (1953, 1956) vs the 1960 first collected edition.
I have a first edition of The Maximus Poems — 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.