The points of issue
Won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. The true first is the Knopf (Borzoi) hardcover of 1990, identified by 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page together with the Borzoi colophon, issued in a dust jacket. Van Duyn was the first woman to hold the title of US Poet Laureate (1992-1993).
Is this the true first?
US Knopf (1990) is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition noted. Later printings remove the 'FIRST EDITION' statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Near Changes a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. The true first is the Knopf (Borzoi) hardcover of 1990, identified by 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page together with the Borzoi colophon, issued in a dust jacket. Van Duyn was the first woman to hold the title of US Poet Laureate (1992-1993).
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 Knopf (1990) is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition noted. Later printings remove the 'FIRST EDITION' statement.
I have a first edition of Near Changes — 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.