Can You Have an Advanced Copyright Year on Book?

I received a question from an author this week and I think other authors might like to know the answer:

Question: Can a book that is printed and made available for sale in 2009 have a copyright date of 2010?

Answer from Greg McNey: The copyright year is the year of first publication and publication generally means making copies of an item available to the public. In the case you’re describing, it is 2009, particularly because of the phrase “made available for sale in 2009.” Simply printing the books this year would not require the 2009 notice; you could print them with a 2010 notice IF you hold them from distribution until that time.