# Is "Dream Work" by Mary Oliver a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Dream Work by Mary Oliver (Atlantic Monthly Press, 1986) is identified by: Atlantic Monthly Press first edition, 1986, stated first printing; half-cloth hardcover in a dust jacket. US true first containing the first book appearance of 'Wild Geese.' The hardcover-versus-paperback distinction is the key collecting point.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Atlantic Monthly Press first edition, 1986, stated first printing; half-cloth hardcover in a dust jacket
- Contains the first book appearance of 'Wild Geese' (along with 'The Journey,' 'Morning Poem,' and 'Starfish')
- The hardcover first in jacket is scarce versus the common paperback
- Publisher imprint reads Atlantic Monthly Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Mary Oliver |
| Publisher | Atlantic Monthly Press |
| Year | 1986 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Poetry |
| Key point | Atlantic Monthly Press first edition, 1986, stated first printing; half-cloth hardcover in a dust jacket |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Atlantic Monthly Press first edition, 1986, stated first printing; half-cloth hardcover in a dust jacket. Contains the first book appearance of 'Wild Geese' (along with 'The Journey,' 'Morning Poem,' and 'Starfish'). The hardcover first in jacket is scarce versus the common paperback.

## Is this the true first?
US true first containing the first book appearance of 'Wild Geese.' The hardcover-versus-paperback distinction is the key collecting point.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition; distinguish the scarce hardcover first from the common trade paperback.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Dream Work* by Mary Oliver a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/dream-work
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.