The points of issue
First printing with the Scribner number line and no later-printing statement; collection of nine stories; dust jacket bearing the printed price, unclipped, with jacket photography by Ben Shahn. Proulx's scarce first book and her most sought-after first edition. Byline "E. Annie Proulx."
Is this the true first?
US Scribner's 1988 first edition is the true first. A 1995 expanded reprint adds two stories and is a "first thus," not the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No prominent book-club edition issue; the 1995 expanded edition (with two added stories) is a distinct, later issue. Verify the 1988 date and the nine-story count.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Heart Songs and Other Stories a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing with the Scribner number line and no later-printing statement; collection of nine stories; dust jacket bearing the printed price, unclipped, with jacket photography by Ben Shahn. Proulx's scarce first book and her most sought-after first edition. Byline "E. Annie Proulx."
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. US Scribner's 1988 first edition is the true first. A 1995 expanded reprint adds two stories and is a "first thus," not the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No prominent book-club edition issue; the 1995 expanded edition (with two added stories) is a distinct, later issue. Verify the 1988 date and the nine-story count.
I have a first edition of Heart Songs and Other Stories — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.