The points of issue
Won the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. First printing: Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge, 1985, issued simultaneously in cloth and in paper wrappers. The clothbound issue is the collector's first; both share the 1985 first-printing setting.
Is this the true first?
US LSU Press (1985) is the true first edition; the clothbound issue is the collector's first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition. The paperback is the simultaneous wrappers issue, not a later printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Flying Change a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Won the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. First printing: Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge, 1985, issued simultaneously in cloth and in paper wrappers. The clothbound issue is the collector's first; both share the 1985 first-printing setting.
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 LSU Press (1985) is the true first edition; the clothbound issue is the collector's first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition. The paperback is the simultaneous wrappers issue, not a later printing.
I have a first edition of The Flying Change — 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.