# Is "Practicing History: Selected Essays" by Barbara W. Tuchman a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Practicing History: Selected Essays by Barbara W. Tuchman (Alfred A. Knopf, 1981) is identified by: Knopf first printing, 1981. US true first (Alfred A.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Alfred A. Knopf first printing, 1981. 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the Borzoi colophon; priced first-state dust jacket
- An essay collection
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Barbara W. Tuchman |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 1981 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Alfred A. Knopf first printing, 1981. 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Alfred A. Knopf first printing, 1981. 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the Borzoi colophon; priced first-state dust jacket. An essay collection.

## Is this the true first?
US true first (Alfred A. Knopf, 1981); first-thus as a collection of previously published essays.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No prominent book-club edition noted.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Practicing History: Selected Essays* by Barbara W. Tuchman a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/practicing-history-selected-essays
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.