How to identify a first printing
- c.1966-1980s: First/only edition by the COLOPHON or imprint line; the press of Clifford Burke, a key figure in the San Francisco small-press and poetry scene. The colophon states the limitation, the type, and the date; output is heavy on broadsides and poetry pamphlets.
- Broadsides: identify by the Cranium Press imprint line and any stated limitation; many were small runs for Bay Area poets (Cranium Press broadsides are documented from at least 1967).
- Note Clifford Burke's authorship of 'Printing Poetry' (1980) and 'Printing It'; the press is closely tied to the West Coast poetry-printing movement.
Notable points & cautions
- Clifford Burke's press, central to the Bay Area mimeo and letterpress poetry revival of the late 1960s and 1970s.
- Output skews to broadsides, pamphlets, and small poetry editions rather than fine folios.
- Limitation statements can be informal, and the absence of a stated number is common for ephemera, so attribution often rests on the imprint line itself.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Cranium Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. c.1966-1980s: First/only edition by the COLOPHON or imprint line; the press of Clifford Burke, a key figure in the San Francisco small-press and poetry scene. The colophon states the limitation, the type, and the date; output is heavy on broadsides and poetry pamphlets. Broadsides: identify by the Cranium Press imprint line and any stated limitation; many were small runs for Bay Area poets (Cranium Press broadsides are documented from at least 1967).
Does Cranium Press use a number line?
Broadsides: identify by the Cranium Press imprint line and any stated limitation; many were small runs for Bay Area poets (Cranium Press broadsides are documented from at least 1967).
Is a book-club edition a Cranium Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Clifford Burke's press, central to the Bay Area mimeo and letterpress poetry revival of the late 1960s and 1970s.
What era does this cover?
This covers Cranium Press (c.1966-1980s). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.