# Is "Taking Care" by Joy Williams a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Taking Care by Joy Williams (Random House, 1982) is identified by: Random House first edition with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page accompanied by a number line whose lowest number is 2 (Random House first-printing convention of roughly 1970-2002: the stated 'First Edition' plus a line such as '2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9'). US Random House hardcover (1982) is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Random House first edition with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page accompanied by a number line whose lowest number is 2 (Random House first-printing convention of roughly 1970-2002: the stated 'First Edition' plus a line such as '2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9')
- If the 'First Edition' statement is absent and the line begins at 2, it is a later printing
- Williams's first story collection
- Confirm an unclipped jacket price on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Joy Williams |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1982 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Random House first edition with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page accompanied by a number line whose lowest number is 2 (Random… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Random House first edition with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page accompanied by a number line whose lowest number is 2 (Random House first-printing convention of roughly 1970-2002: the stated 'First Edition' plus a line such as '2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9'). If the 'First Edition' statement is absent and the line begins at 2, it is a later printing. Williams's first story collection. Confirm an unclipped jacket price on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
US Random House hardcover (1982) is the true first. The later Vintage Contemporaries paperback (1985) is a first-thus, not the first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the 'First Edition' statement and the number line and may carry a rear-board blind stamp.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Taking Care* by Joy Williams a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/taking-care
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.