# Is "House of Light" by Mary Oliver a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of House of Light by Mary Oliver (Beacon Press, 1990) is identified by: First edition, Beacon Press, 1990, in blue cloth over boards with the spine titled in silver, in dust jacket; a simultaneous paperback was also issued. US Beacon Press; the hardcover first is the point.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition, Beacon Press, 1990, in blue cloth over boards with the spine titled in silver, in dust jacket; a simultaneous paperback was also issued
- The hardcover first is the collectible form
- Identify the first printing by the stated first-edition wording on the copyright page
- Publisher imprint reads Beacon Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Mary Oliver |
| Publisher | Beacon Press |
| Year | 1990 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition, Beacon Press, 1990, in blue cloth over boards with the spine titled in… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition, Beacon Press, 1990, in blue cloth over boards with the spine titled in silver, in dust jacket; a simultaneous paperback was also issued. The hardcover first is the collectible form. Identify the first printing by the stated first-edition wording on the copyright page.

## Is this the true first?
US Beacon Press; the hardcover first is the point.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *House of Light* by Mary Oliver a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/house-of-light
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.