# Is "Earthly Possessions" by Anne Tyler a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Earthly Possessions by Anne Tyler (Alfred A. Knopf, 1977) is identified by: Knopf, New York, 1977. US Knopf 1977 is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Knopf, New York, 1977
- The true first states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with the borzoi colophon; quarter cloth over green paper boards (boards blind-stamped), spine lettered in gilt, jacket designed by Fred Marcellino with the printed price present
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Anne Tyler |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 1977 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Knopf, New York, 1977 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Knopf, New York, 1977. The true first states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with the borzoi colophon; quarter cloth over green paper boards (boards blind-stamped), spine lettered in gilt, jacket designed by Fred Marcellino with the printed price present.

## Is this the true first?
US Knopf 1977 is the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions omit the stated 'FIRST EDITION' and the printed jacket price; note that blind-stamped boards are a feature of the trade first as well, so rely on the copyright-page statement and the priced jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Earthly Possessions* by Anne Tyler a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/earthly-possessions
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.