Opened Ground: Selected Poems 1966-1996 Value Guide

This 1998 compilation serves as a definitive retrospective of Seamus Heaney's career, curated shortly after he received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995. It is highly collectible for its comprehensive scope, capturing thirty years of Heaney's profound exploration of Northern Irish identity and landscape.

What affects the value of Opened Ground: Selected Poems 1966-1996?

• Presence of a signature or inscription by Seamus Heaney significantly increases the $50-$60 base value.
• The condition of the dust jacket, specifically the absence of fading or tears, is critical for collectors.
• First edition status, indicated by the '1' in the printing line, commands the highest market price.
• Provenance, such as an original bookstore sticker from Ireland, can add unique historical appeal.

How to Identify Opened Ground: Selected Poems 1966-1996?

• Verify the 1998 publication date on the copyright page to ensure it is a first edition or early printing.
• Check for the publisher's mark, typically Faber and Faber in the UK or Farrar, Straus and Giroux in the US.
• Inspect the dust jacket for the specific cover art and the 'Selected Poems 1966-1996' subtitle.
• Look for a clean, tight binding and crisp paper pages consistent with late 20th-century Irish literary editions.

History of Opened Ground: Selected Poems 1966-1996

Seamus Heaney was an Irish poet, playwright, and translator who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995. 'Opened Ground' was published in 1998, compiling a selection of his poems from his earlier works up to that point. Heaney's work often explored themes of identity, landscape, and political conflict in Northern Ireland, earning him critical acclaim and a vast readership.