# Is "A Lost Lady" by Willa Cather a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of A Lost Lady by Willa Cather (Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1923) is identified by: Published September 1923. True US first; precedes the UK Heinemann edition of 1924.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Published September 1923
- The limitation comprises 220 signed copies on Borzoi all-rag paper (20 lettered A–T and 200 numbered 1–200), plus the trade printing of 20,000 copies on English featherweight paper
- Trade first is bound in green cloth lettered in gilt with distinctive green-and-purple patterned endpapers and title page printed in black and green
- Knopf borzoi imprint
- Knopf firsts of this period do not carry a printed 'first edition' statement, so the first is identified by the absence of any later-printing notice together with the borzoi imprint and the points above
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf, New York
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Willa Cather |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf, New York |
| Year | 1923 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Published September 1923 |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Published September 1923. The limitation comprises 220 signed copies on Borzoi all-rag paper (20 lettered A–T and 200 numbered 1–200), plus the trade printing of 20,000 copies on English featherweight paper. Trade first is bound in green cloth lettered in gilt with distinctive green-and-purple patterned endpapers and title page printed in black and green; Knopf borzoi imprint. Knopf firsts of this period do not carry a printed 'first edition' statement, so the first is identified by the absence of any later-printing notice together with the borzoi imprint and the points above.

## Is this the true first?
True US first; precedes the UK Heinemann edition of 1924. The signed Borzoi-rag limited copies (20 lettered, 200 numbered) are the deluxe first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club issue. Later printings add impression notices on the copyright page.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *A Lost Lady* by Willa Cather a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/a-lost-lady
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.