# Is "Self-Help" by Lorrie Moore a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Self-Help by Lorrie Moore (Alfred A. Knopf, 1985) is identified by: Borzoi/Knopf copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with the publisher's number-line present and descending to a terminal '1'; Borzoi colophon. The US Knopf hardcover (1985) is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Borzoi/Knopf copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with the publisher's number-line present and descending to a terminal '1'
- Borzoi colophon
- Quarter grey cloth over grey paper boards, silver spine lettering; dust jacket priced on the front flap
- ISBN 0-394-53921-4
- Moore's debut story collection
- The terminal '1' in the number-line is decisive, because a later printing of the first edition can retain the words 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page while the number-line no longer reaches '1'
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Lorrie Moore |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 1985 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Borzoi/Knopf copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with the publisher's number-line present and descending to a terminal '1' |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Borzoi/Knopf copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with the publisher's number-line present and descending to a terminal '1'; Borzoi colophon. Quarter grey cloth over grey paper boards, silver spine lettering; dust jacket priced on the front flap. ISBN 0-394-53921-4. Moore's debut story collection. The terminal '1' in the number-line is decisive, because a later printing of the first edition can retain the words 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page while the number-line no longer reaches '1'.

## Is this the true first?
The US Knopf hardcover (1985) is the true first. Later Plume/Vintage paperbacks are a first-thus, not the first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the number-line and the jacket flap price and run lighter in weight.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Self-Help* by Lorrie Moore a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/self-help
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.