How to identify a first printing
- 1983-present: First/only edition by the COLOPHON or broadside imprint line; the press of Michael Peich. It specializes in poetry (single poems and small collections), frequently issued as signed limited broadsides and pamphlets. The colophon or imprint line states the limitation (commonly on the order of 100-250 copies) and the date, and many are SIGNED by the poet.
- Broadsides: identify by the Aralia Press imprint, the poet's signature, and the stated limitation; these are often first appearances of individual poems by major poets (Wilbur, Hecht, Justice, Hollander, and others).
- Pamphlets and chapbooks: colophon-controlled, hand-set, letterpress-printed, and hand-numbered.
Notable points & cautions
- Michael Peich, Emeritus Professor of English at West Chester University, founded Aralia in 1983 as a teaching press and a vehicle to support new poets; he also helped found and direct the West Chester Poetry Conference.
- Many items are first printings of poems by major American poets, where the poet's signature plus the limitation are the identification tells.
- Output is small-format (broadsides and pamphlets) rather than folios, using hand-set type and letterpress printing.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Aralia Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1983-present: First/only edition by the COLOPHON or broadside imprint line; the press of Michael Peich. It specializes in poetry (single poems and small collections), frequently issued as signed limited broadsides and pamphlets. The colophon or imprint line states the limitation (commonly on the order of 100-250 copies) and the date, and many are SIGNED by the poet. Broadsides: identify by the Aralia Press imprint, the poet's signature, and the stated limitation; these are often first appearances of individual poems by major poets (Wilbur, Hecht, Justice, Hollander, and others).
Does Aralia Press use a number line?
Broadsides: identify by the Aralia Press imprint, the poet's signature, and the stated limitation; these are often first appearances of individual poems by major poets (Wilbur, Hecht, Justice, Hollander, and others).
Is a book-club edition a Aralia Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Michael Peich, Emeritus Professor of English at West Chester University, founded Aralia in 1983 as a teaching press and a vehicle to support new poets; he also helped found and direct the West Chester Poetry Conference.
What era does this cover?
This covers Aralia Press (1983-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.