# Is "Birds of America" by Lorrie Moore a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Birds of America by Lorrie Moore (Alfred A. Knopf, 1998) is identified by: Borzoi/Knopf copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with the full number-line ending in a terminal '1'; Borzoi colophon. The US Knopf hardcover (1998) is the true first; the UK Faber edition is a separate first-thus.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Borzoi/Knopf copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with the full number-line ending in a terminal '1'
- Borzoi colophon
- Confirm the dust-jacket front-flap price is present and unclipped
- Moore's best-known and most-collected story collection (a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist)
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Lorrie Moore |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 1998 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Borzoi/Knopf copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with the full number-line ending in a terminal '1' |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Borzoi/Knopf copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with the full number-line ending in a terminal '1'; Borzoi colophon. Confirm the dust-jacket front-flap price is present and unclipped. Moore's best-known and most-collected story collection (a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist).

## Is this the true first?
The US Knopf hardcover (1998) is the true first; the UK Faber edition is a separate first-thus.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-of-the-Month and other club copies are lighter, lack the number-line and the flap price, and may show a small blind-stamp on the rear board.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Birds of America* by Lorrie Moore a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/birds-of-america
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.