# Is "White Mule" by William Carlos Williams a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of White Mule by William Carlos Williams (New Directions, 1937) is identified by: Novel (Stecher trilogy vol. US New Directions is the true first; later printings carry a printing notice.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Novel (Stecher trilogy vol
- 1) and the first novel New Directions published
- First printing of 1,100 copies in white linen cloth lettered in black, top edge stained black, in a white dust jacket printed in brown
- The key first-printing point is 'June 10' printed in the bottom margin of the front dust-jacket flap
- Wallace A18a
- Publisher imprint reads New Directions
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | William Carlos Williams |
| Publisher | New Directions |
| Year | 1937 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Novel (Stecher trilogy vol |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Novel (Stecher trilogy vol. 1) and the first novel New Directions published. First printing of 1,100 copies in white linen cloth lettered in black, top edge stained black, in a white dust jacket printed in brown. The key first-printing point is 'June 10' printed in the bottom margin of the front dust-jacket flap. Wallace A18a.

## Is this the true first?
US New Directions is the true first; later printings carry a printing notice.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *White Mule* by William Carlos Williams a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/white-mule
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.