The points of issue
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich first edition, 'First edition' so stated, first printing; cloth in priced dust jacket; 67 pages. Subtitled 'New Poems.' Later printings (a stated second printing exists) drop or advance the first-edition statement.
Is this the true first?
US true first. Wilbur, a two-time Pulitzer winner, is steadily collected; signed copies are reasonably available and desirable.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition; later printings drop the first-edition statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Mind-Reader a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich first edition, 'First edition' so stated, first printing; cloth in priced dust jacket; 67 pages. Subtitled 'New Poems.' Later printings (a stated second printing exists) drop or advance the first-edition statement.
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. Wilbur, a two-time Pulitzer winner, is steadily collected; signed copies are reasonably available and desirable.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition; later printings drop the first-edition statement.
I have a first edition of The Mind-Reader — 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.