The points of issue
Sexton's first book. Houghton Mifflin Boston first printing, identified by the 'First Printing' statement on the copyright page with no later-printing line. Slim octavo in quarter cloth with the white pictorial dust jacket; jacket priced on the front flap. The collection carries a blurb by Robert Lowell. A confessional debut that was a National Book Award finalist.
Is this the true first?
US true first; precedes the later UK Oxford University Press appearance. Signed copies are scarce given Sexton's 1974 death.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. The trap is later Houghton Mifflin printings, which add a printing line on the copyright page in place of the clean 'First Printing' statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of To Bedlam and Part Way Back a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Sexton's first book. Houghton Mifflin Boston first printing, identified by the 'First Printing' statement on the copyright page with no later-printing line. Slim octavo in quarter cloth with the white pictorial dust jacket; jacket priced on the front flap. The collection carries a blurb by Robert Lowell. A confessional debut that was a National Book Award finalist.
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; precedes the later UK Oxford University Press appearance. Signed copies are scarce given Sexton's 1974 death.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. The trap is later Houghton Mifflin printings, which add a printing line on the copyright page in place of the clean 'First Printing' statement.
I have a first edition of To Bedlam and Part Way Back — 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.