# Is "Irish Thoroughbred" by Nora Roberts a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Irish Thoroughbred by Nora Roberts (Silhouette Books, 1981) is identified by: Nora Roberts's debut novel. The paperback original is the true first; there was no original hardcover.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Nora Roberts's debut novel
- Silhouette Romance #81, a category mass-market paperback original, 1981
- The first printing is identified by the Silhouette Romance series number 81, the original cover price, and no later-printing statement
- As a disposable category romance intended for roughly one month on sale, surviving fine first printings are genuinely scarce
- Publisher imprint reads Silhouette Books
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Nora Roberts |
| Publisher | Silhouette Books |
| Year | 1981 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Nora Roberts's debut novel |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Nora Roberts's debut novel. Silhouette Romance #81, a category mass-market paperback original, 1981. The first printing is identified by the Silhouette Romance series number 81, the original cover price, and no later-printing statement. As a disposable category romance intended for roughly one month on sale, surviving fine first printings are genuinely scarce.

## Is this the true first?
The paperback original is the true first; there was no original hardcover. The later St. Martin's hardcover and the 'Irish Hearts' omnibus are first thus only. This is the cornerstone Nora Roberts collectible as her first published book.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club hardcover in 1981. Beware the 'Irish Hearts' omnibus and later standalone reprints; verify the 1981 date and the Silhouette Romance #81 designation.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Irish Thoroughbred* by Nora Roberts a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/irish-thoroughbred
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.