# Is "A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century" by Barbara W. Tuchman a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century by Barbara W. Tuchman (Alfred A. Knopf, 1978) is identified by: Knopf (a Borzoi Book) first printing, 1978. US true first (Alfred A.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Alfred A. Knopf (a Borzoi Book) first printing, 1978. 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the Borzoi colophon; priced first-state dust jacket
- Knopf firsts of this period are identified by the stated 'First Edition' line, not by a number line
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Barbara W. Tuchman |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 1978 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Alfred A. Knopf (a Borzoi Book) first printing, 1978. 'First Edition' stated on the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Alfred A. Knopf (a Borzoi Book) first printing, 1978. 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the Borzoi colophon; priced first-state dust jacket. Knopf firsts of this period are identified by the stated 'First Edition' line, not by a number line.

## Is this the true first?
US true first (Alfred A. Knopf, 1978).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-of-the-Month Club editions exist with no jacket price and a blind-stamp to the rear board.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century* by Barbara W. Tuchman a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/a-distant-mirror-the-calamitous-14th-century
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.