The points of issue
First (partial) edition: New Directions, 1960, a limited signed edition of 750 numbered copies containing only excerpts. The first COMPLETE edition is McGraw-Hill, 1972 (posthumous), with an introduction by Allen Ginsberg.
Is this the true first?
The 1960 New Directions limited (750 copies, signed/numbered, excerpts only) is the true first appearance in book form but is incomplete. The 1972 McGraw-Hill is the first complete edition ('first thus'). Collectors distinguish the scarce signed 1960 limited from the 1972 trade first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club. The key is the 1960 ND limited (partial, 750 signed copies) vs. the 1972 McGraw-Hill first complete edition — these are different texts, not mere reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Visions of Cody a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First (partial) edition: New Directions, 1960, a limited signed edition of 750 numbered copies containing only excerpts. The first COMPLETE edition is McGraw-Hill, 1972 (posthumous), with an introduction by Allen Ginsberg.
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 1960 New Directions limited (750 copies, signed/numbered, excerpts only) is the true first appearance in book form but is incomplete. The 1972 McGraw-Hill is the first complete edition ('first thus'). Collectors distinguish the scarce signed 1960 limited from the 1972 trade first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club. The key is the 1960 ND limited (partial, 750 signed copies) vs. the 1972 McGraw-Hill first complete edition — these are different texts, not mere reprints.
I have a first edition of Visions of Cody — 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.