# Is "In the Money" by William Carlos Williams a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of In the Money by William Carlos Williams (New Directions, 1940) is identified by: First edition of the novel (subtitled 'White Mule, Part II'; second volume of the Stecher trilogy, sequel to 'White Mule' and preceding 'The Build-Up'). US New Directions (Norfolk, Connecticut), 1940; no prior edition in any country.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition of the novel (subtitled 'White Mule, Part II'; second volume of the Stecher trilogy, sequel to 'White Mule' and preceding 'The Build-Up')
- Published by New Directions in 1940, bound in publisher's blue cloth with spine lettering, and issued in a dust jacket that should carry its printed price on the flap
- No prior edition exists; the New Directions issue is the first
- Publisher imprint reads New Directions
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | William Carlos Williams |
| Publisher | New Directions |
| Year | 1940 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition of the novel (subtitled 'White Mule, Part II'; second volume of the Stecher trilogy, sequel to 'White Mule' and preceding… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
First edition of the novel (subtitled 'White Mule, Part II'; second volume of the Stecher trilogy, sequel to 'White Mule' and preceding 'The Build-Up'). Published by New Directions in 1940, bound in publisher's blue cloth with spine lettering, and issued in a dust jacket that should carry its printed price on the flap. No prior edition exists; the New Directions issue is the first.

## Is this the true first?
US New Directions (Norfolk, Connecticut), 1940; no prior edition in any country.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition was issued for this title.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *In the Money* by William Carlos Williams a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/in-the-money
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.