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First-Edition Identification

Poetry & Literary Presses

First-printing identification for 27 publishers — pick a house for its number-line convention, stated-edition tells, and book-club cautions.

Action Books2005–presentNumber line on the copyright page where present; the lowest digit indicates the printing.Alice James Books1973–presentModern convention: 'First Edition' on the copyright page, often with a descending number lBlack Sparrow Press1966–2002 (original press)TITLE-PAGE COLOR is the master point: a first printing has a title page printed in two or BOA Editions, Ltd.1976–presentModern convention: copyright page states 'First Edition' and/or carries a descending numbeBurning Deck Press1961–2017Letterpress craft house: identification is colophon-driven. A rear colophon typically statCarnegie Mellon University Press1972–presentNumber line on the copyright page; the lowest digit present indicates the printing.City Lights Books / City Lights Publishers1955–presentEarly titles: a first has no additional printings listed on the copyright page (no number Copper Canyon Press1972–presentModern convention: first printing typically stated as 'First Printing' or 'First Edition' Dalkey Archive Press1984–present (Deep Vellum from 2021)Modern convention: copyright page states 'First Edition' / 'First printing' often with a dEcco Press1971–present (HarperCollins from 1999)Independent era (1971–1999): copyright page typically states 'First Edition' or 'First PriFence Books2001-presentNumber line on the copyright page; lowest number = the printing.Four Way Books1993–presentNumber line on the copyright page; the lowest number present indicates the printing.Graywolf Press1974–presentModern convention: copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries a descending number lNew Directions1936–present (convention shifts ~1970)Late 1940s through 1969: a true first has NO additional printings/dates listed on the copyNightboat Books2004–presentNumber line on the copyright page where present; the lowest number indicates the printing.Octopus Books2005–presentNumber line on the copyright page where present; the lowest digit indicates the printing.Omnidawn Publishing2001–presentNumber line on the copyright page where present; the lowest digit indicates the printing.Persea Books1975–presentNumber line on the copyright page; the lowest digit present indicates the printing.Sarabande Books1994–presentModern convention: copyright page states 'First Edition' typically with a descending numbeSun & Moon Press1980s–late 1990s (Green Integer 1999–)Late-20th-century convention: copyright page states 'First Edition' and frequently carriesThe Sheep Meadow Press1977–presentWhere a number line is present, the lowest number indicates the printing.Tin House Books2005–presentModern convention: copyright page states 'First U.S. Edition' or 'First Edition' with a deTupelo Press1999-present (first titles 2001)Number line on the copyright page where present; lowest number = the printing.Ugly Duckling Presse1993-present (books from late 1990s)Colophon-driven: most UDP books carry a rear colophon that states the edition size (often University of Pittsburgh Press — Pitt Poetry Series1968–presentUniversity-press convention: number line on the copyright page; the lowest number present Verse Press2000-2005Number line where present; lowest digit = the printing.Wave Books2005–present (Verse Press 2000–2005)Modern convention: copyright page states 'First Edition' with a descending number line; '1

Part of the First-Edition Identification hub · data: first-editions.json (CC BY 4.0).