# Is "Glass, Irony and God" by Anne Carson a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Glass, Irony and God by Anne Carson (New Directions, 1995) is identified by: New Directions Paperbook original (NDP 808), issued in wrappers with an introduction by Guy Davenport; ISBN 0811213021. US New Directions Paperbook is the true first issue, published in wrappers in 1995.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- New Directions Paperbook original (NDP 808), issued in wrappers with an introduction by Guy Davenport
- ISBN 0811213021
- First printing carries a full number line on the copyright page descending to 1; confirm it reaches 1
- Publisher imprint reads New Directions
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Anne Carson |
| Publisher | New Directions |
| Year | 1995 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Poetry |
| Key point | New Directions Paperbook original (NDP 808), issued in wrappers with an introduction by Guy Davenport |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
New Directions Paperbook original (NDP 808), issued in wrappers with an introduction by Guy Davenport; ISBN 0811213021. First printing carries a full number line on the copyright page descending to 1; confirm it reaches 1.

## Is this the true first?
US New Directions Paperbook is the true first issue, published in wrappers in 1995.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings reduce the number line; verify it reaches 1.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Glass, Irony and God* by Anne Carson a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/glass-irony-and-god
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.