First edition
There were two states of the first printing, created by cancellation of two leaves to correct typographical errors. See Joan St. C. Crane, Robert Frost: A Descriptive Catalogue of Books and Manuscripts in the Clifton Waller Barrett Library, University of Virginia (Charlottesville, 1974), entry A4.
| RFA 16 1916 |
First state, with errors on pp. 88 and 93 (blue cloth). 6 copies. * Copy 1 is inscribed by Frost for Martin Howes (Class of 1926) with the first 14 lines of “Happiness Makes Up in Height for What It Lacks in Length” (with variant punctuation from the printed text). Gift of Martin K. Howes. * Copy 2 has the full text of “Fragmentary Blue” (here titled “About Blue”) written out and initialed by Frost; Frost wrote in the missing line to "Snow" on page 88 and the correct reading of "Gone" for "Come" on page 93. From the library of George F. Whicher (Class of 1910), with his bookplate. Gift of the Estate of George F. Whicher. * Copy 3 is inscribed by Frost to Harold J. Baily (Class of 1908) with the full text of “A Time to Talk” (here titled “Page Forty-four,” the location of the poem in this volume). Gift of Mrs. Harold J. Baily. * Copy 4 is inscribed “Annotated for Miner Allen”; Frost has annotated most of the poems in the volume with information on the physical location, person, or inspiration connected with each one. Gift of Mrs. Harry E. Wheeler, Miner Allen, and Albert Allen, in memory of Miner Wickliffe Allen. * Copy 5 is from the library of Philip N. Youtz (Class of 1918), with his signature; Frost has written out and signed the full text of “The Flower Boat,” with the note: “This is an old poem once printed in The Youth’s Companion and never brought into a book.” Frost wrote in the missing line to "Snow" on page 88 and the correct reading of "Gone" for "Come" on page 93. Annotations by Youtz on several poems are explained in his essay “Robert Frost’s comments on his poetry” (MS Frost 380). Gift of Philip N. Youtz. * Copy 6 is inscribed by Frost to Jack W. C. Hagstrom (Class of 1955), “in the train but not en route,” April 16 (26?), 1959; with Hagstrom’s bookplate, and an armorial bookplate of one MacManus; inserted is a calling card of Miss Elizabeth Marshall with manuscript Christmas greetings. In dust jacket. Gift of Jack W. C. Hagstrom. |
| RFA 16 1916a |
Second state, with the leaves containing pp. 87-88 and 93-94 cancelled and replaced with correctly printed leaves (blue cloth). 1 copy. *Copy 1. From the library of Roland A. Wood (Class of 1920), with his bookplate; signature of Elizabeth G. Wyandt. Gift of Roland A. Wood. |
| RFA 16 1992 |
Facsimile reprint of the first edition, first state, with the errors (Collectors Reprints, New York; blue cloth). 2 copies. * Copy 1 is in dust jacket. Purchased. * Copy 2 (with call number: RFA 13 1992a) is in dust jacket; in a printed paper wrapper with a similar facsimile of A Boy’s Will, issued as part of the Library of American Poets, with a broadside printing (in facsimile from Mountain Interval) of “The Road Not Taken”; the broadside has been removed and placed in file (call number: File RFA 13 1992a broadside). Purchased. |
Second edition
Crane A4.1. There appear to have been six printings of this edition, distinguished by the characteristics noted in the individual descriptions. The dates are largely conjectural.
| RFA 16 1921 |
First printing (dated 1921 on title page; half green cloth and green boards, 232 mm tall, with no rule below the author’s name on spine). 2 copies. * Copy 1 is inscribed by Frost to Augusta and Charles Hoeing, Rochester [N.Y.], November 1921. Gift of Mrs. Charles Hoeing. * Copy 2 is inscribed by Frost for George Whicher (Class of 1910): “In memory of snowy nights between one and two o’clock on the Pelham road.” With Whicher’s bookplate. With dust jacket (in several pieces; removed and placed in file, with call number: File RFA 16 1921 c.2 dj). Gift of the Estate of George F. Whicher. |
| RFA 16 1921b |
Second printing (dated 1921 on title page; half green cloth and green boards, 222 mm tall, with a thin-thick rule below the author’s name on spine). 2 copies. * Copy 1 is from the library of Samuel B. Cummings (Class of 1926), inscribed by Frost: “Reminder of that Amherst class with Robert Frost teaching.” Gift of Samuel B. Cummings. * Copy 2 is signed by Frost, Amherst, 1924; from the library of Newton F. McKeon (Class of 1926). Gift of Mary Maury McKeon. |
| RFA 16 1921c |
Third printing (dated 1924 on title page; half green cloth and green boards). 2 copies. * Copy 1. Source unknown. * Copy 2 is signed by Frost, with the ownership signature of Richard H. Templeton, Jr. (Class of 1931), dated January 1928. Gift of Richard H. Templeton. |
| RFA 16 1921d |
Fourth (?) printing (undated, either on title page or copyright page; no later than early 1928; half green cloth and green boards). 1 copy. * Copy 1. Inscribed by Frost for Hugo T. Saglio (Class of 1931), with the full text of “Acquainted with the Night” (with substantive variants in lines 9-10), dated February 29, 1928; in dust jacket. [The manuscript poem is reproduced in “Your Success Is My Success”: Robert Frost to Hugo Saglio (Amherst: Friends of the Amherst College Library, 2004).] Gift of Hugo T. Saglio. |
| [Fifth (?) printing (with “New edition” on title page and “May 1931” on copyright page). No copy at Amherst.] | |
| RFA 16 1921f |
Sixth (?) printing (undated on title page, with “May 1931” on copyright page; half green cloth and green boards). 1 copy. * Copy 1. Inscribed by Frost to Jack W. C. Hagstrom (Class of 1955); with Hagstrom’s bookplate. Gift of Jack W. C. Hagstrom. |