The points of issue
Won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, Merwin's second. First printing: Copper Canyon Press, 2008, identified by the publisher's number line on the copyright page. Note that Copper Canyon's line counts down to 2 on a first printing rather than to 1, so the lowest number present being 2 is the first-printing point; the line advances on later printings. Issued in cloth with dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Copper Canyon Press (2008) is the true first edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition. First printing shown by the number line bottoming out at 2; later printings raise that low number.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Shadow of Sirius a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, Merwin's second. First printing: Copper Canyon Press, 2008, identified by the publisher's number line on the copyright page. Note that Copper Canyon's line counts down to 2 on a first printing rather than to 1, so the lowest number present being 2 is the first-printing point; the line advances on later printings. Issued in cloth with dust jacket.
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 Copper Canyon Press (2008) is the true first edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition. First printing shown by the number line bottoming out at 2; later printings raise that low number.
I have a first edition of The Shadow of Sirius — 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.