# Is "At the Gates of the Animal Kingdom" by Amy Hempel a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of At the Gates of the Animal Kingdom by Amy Hempel (Alfred A. Knopf, 1990) is identified by: Knopf (Borzoi) first edition, ISBN 0-394-57174-6. The US Knopf hardcover (1990) is the true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Knopf (Borzoi) first edition, ISBN 0-394-57174-6
- Copyright page states FIRST EDITION with a number line descending to 1
- Borzoi colophon present
- Hempel's second book, a story collection (137 pp), typically in orange cloth over black boards with matching jacket
- Verify the jacket price is present and unclipped
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Amy Hempel |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 1990 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Knopf (Borzoi) first edition, ISBN 0-394-57174-6 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Knopf (Borzoi) first edition, ISBN 0-394-57174-6. Copyright page states FIRST EDITION with a number line descending to 1; Borzoi colophon present. Hempel's second book, a story collection (137 pp), typically in orange cloth over black boards with matching jacket. Verify the jacket price is present and unclipped.

## Is this the true first?
The US Knopf hardcover (1990) is the true first edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issues lack the FIRST EDITION/number-line statement and the priced jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *At the Gates of the Animal Kingdom* by Amy Hempel a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/at-the-gates-of-the-animal-kingdom
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.