How to identify a first printing
- Number line on the copyright page; the lowest digit present indicates the printing.
- Series designation ('Carnegie Mellon Poetry Series') appears on the title or copyright leaf; firsts may also state 'First edition' with a year.
- Classic Contemporary Series titles are REISSUES of previously published collections — the CMU printing is not the world first edition; verify the original publisher and date before treating a CMU copy as a first.
Notable points & cautions
- University-press poetry program established in 1972 (initially as Three Rivers Press; founder and director Gerald Costanzo). The Classic Contemporary Series specifically brings out-of-print collections back into print, a common 'false first' trap.
- For a true first edition of a Classic Contemporary title, confirm the original publisher; the CMU reissue carries reprint or first-CMU-printing language rather than world-first priority.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Carnegie Mellon Poetry Series, Carnegie Mellon Classic Contemporary Series. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Carnegie Mellon University Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Number line on the copyright page; the lowest digit present indicates the printing. Series designation ('Carnegie Mellon Poetry Series') appears on the title or copyright leaf; firsts may also state 'First edition' with a year.
Does Carnegie Mellon University Press use a number line?
Series designation ('Carnegie Mellon Poetry Series') appears on the title or copyright leaf; firsts may also state 'First edition' with a year.
Is a book-club edition a Carnegie Mellon University Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. University-press poetry program established in 1972 (initially as Three Rivers Press; founder and director Gerald Costanzo). The Classic Contemporary Series specifically brings out-of-print collections back into print, a common 'false first' trap.
What era does this cover?
This covers Carnegie Mellon University Press (1972–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.
Carnegie Mellon University Press titles with documented first-edition points
Each link opens that title’s specific points of issue — the exact marks that separate a true first printing from a later one.
- Thomas and Beulah (Rita Dove, 1986)