The points of issue
The true first edition of Death Comes for the Archbishop signed first by Willa Cather is identified by: Knopf 1927.
Knopf’s first-printing convention: Stated "First Edition" (1947–present) Borzoi running-wolfhound device. Full points-of-issue methodology →
Commonly confused with
Book-club editions and later printings reprint the text but are not the first edition and are far less collectible. Borzoi colophon and “A Note on the Type” page authenticate genuine Knopf production rather than a book club reprint. Use the points above to be certain — see book-club edition vs. first edition.
Where it sits
Death Comes for the Archbishop signed first is a Tier 2 (low-to-mid four-figure) title in the New Mexico Book Value Index. Cather's 1927 New Mexico-set novel is a canonical Southwest literary first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Death Comes for the Archbishop signed first a first edition?
Look for these first-printing points: Knopf 1927 For Knopf, Stated "First Edition" (1947–present) Borzoi running-wolfhound device. Later printings and book-club editions lack them.
How do I tell a first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention: Stated "First Edition" (1947–present) Borzoi running-wolfhound device, and confirm the named point of issue above. A number line, stated edition, or dated first printing is the key.
Is a book-club edition the same as a first edition?
No. Book-club editions (BCE) reprint the text but are not the true first edition and are far less collectible — Borzoi colophon and “A Note on the Type” page authenticate genuine Knopf production rather than a book club reprint.. Check the points of issue above to be sure.
I have a first edition of Death Comes for the Archbishop signed first — what should I do with it?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque in any condition and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. If you'd rather sell, see the Willa Cather collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.