How to identify a first printing
- 1975-2005 (~135 titles): predominantly perfect-bound offset trade paperbacks, with a few early letterpress/limited items. Identification rests on the COPYRIGHT-PAGE printing statement: first printings carry no later-printing notice and, in most cases, no number line. Because reprints are uncommon, a clean copyright page with no reprint statement indicates a first.
- The press's debut title (1975, poems by Artie Gold and Geoffrey Young) was an elegant limited edition; identify by the stated limitation.
- Some titles were co-published or distributed (e.g. via Small Press Distribution); the title/copyright-page imprint reading 'The Figures' anchors identification.
- Where a number line or 'second printing' note is present, treat its absence as evidence of a first; the press's low reprint rate makes physical collation against the title list decisive.
Notable points & cautions
- Name drawn from Charles Olson's 'Maximus Poems'; recognized as one of the most important publishers of Language and post-New York School experimental writing.
- Founded after Young ceased his Berkeley poetry magazine 'Stooge' in 1975; early production was aided by the NEA-sponsored West Coast Print Center, which kept costs low.
- Moved with Young to the Berkshires in 1982; the list wound down around 2005, after which Young continued occasional titles and ran a gallery in Great Barrington.
- Distinct trade-paperback design; collected for its central Language-poetry list.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: The Figures. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my The Figures book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1975-2005 (~135 titles): predominantly perfect-bound offset trade paperbacks, with a few early letterpress/limited items. Identification rests on the COPYRIGHT-PAGE printing statement: first printings carry no later-printing notice and, in most cases, no number line. Because reprints are uncommon, a clean copyright page with no reprint statement indicates a first. The press's debut title (1975, poems by Artie Gold and Geoffrey Young) was an elegant limited edition; identify by the stated limitation.
Does The Figures use a number line?
The press's debut title (1975, poems by Artie Gold and Geoffrey Young) was an elegant limited edition; identify by the stated limitation.
Is a book-club edition a The Figures first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Name drawn from Charles Olson's 'Maximus Poems'; recognized as one of the most important publishers of Language and post-New York School experimental writing.
What era does this cover?
This covers The Figures (1975-2005). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.