# Is "Ray" by Barry Hannah a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Ray by Barry Hannah (Alfred A. Knopf, 1980) is identified by: Knopf first printing with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page and the borzoi colophon; original price present on the front jacket flap; 113 pp.; jacket designed by Fred Marcellino. The US Knopf 1980 edition is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Knopf first printing with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page and the borzoi colophon; original price present on the front jacket flap
- 113 pp.; jacket designed by Fred Marcellino
- A short novel and a critical breakthrough for Hannah
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Barry Hannah |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 1980 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Knopf first printing with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page and the borzoi colophon; original price present on the front jacket… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Knopf first printing with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page and the borzoi colophon; original price present on the front jacket flap; 113 pp.; jacket designed by Fred Marcellino. A short novel and a critical breakthrough for Hannah.

## Is this the true first?
The US Knopf 1980 edition is the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issue: blind-stamp to the board, no price on the jacket flap, and lacks the stated 'First Edition.'

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Ray* by Barry Hannah a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/ray
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.