# Is "Hole in the Sky: A Memoir" by William Kittredge a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Hole in the Sky: A Memoir by William Kittredge (Alfred A. Knopf, 1992) is identified by: Knopf, New York, dated 1992; 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the Borzoi colophon and a number line descending to 1. True first US edition of Kittredge's memoir and best-known book.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Alfred A. Knopf, New York, dated 1992; 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the Borzoi colophon and a number line descending to 1
- Bound in black cloth over boards with gilt spine stamping, octavo, 238 pages, and issued in a priced dust jacket; the jacket should carry its printed price, with price-clipping not by itself indicating a later printing
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | William Kittredge |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 1992 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Alfred A. Knopf, New York, dated 1992; 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Alfred A. Knopf, New York, dated 1992; 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the Borzoi colophon and a number line descending to 1. Bound in black cloth over boards with gilt spine stamping, octavo, 238 pages, and issued in a priced dust jacket; the jacket should carry its printed price, with price-clipping not by itself indicating a later printing.

## Is this the true first?
True first US edition of Kittredge's memoir and best-known book.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club concern for the stated Knopf first; confirm the 'First Edition' statement, the Borzoi colophon, and the full number line ending in 1. A later Random House Vintage trade paperback (1993) is a separate later issue, not the first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Hole in the Sky: A Memoir* by William Kittredge a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/hole-in-the-sky-a-memoir
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.