# Is "The Cider House Rules" by John Irving a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Cider House Rules by John Irving (William Morrow, 1985) is identified by: Morrow first printing: "First Trade Edition" stated on the copyright page with a full number line running down to 1; the unclipped jacket carries the printed price (jacket designed by Honi Werner). The US Morrow edition is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Morrow first printing: "First Trade Edition" stated on the copyright page with a full number line running down to 1; the unclipped jacket carries the printed price (jacket designed by Honi Werner)
- A signed limited edition was also issued
- Publisher imprint reads William Morrow
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John Irving |
| Publisher | William Morrow |
| Year | 1985 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Morrow first printing: "First Trade Edition" stated on the copyright page with a full number line running down to 1; the unclipped jacket… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Morrow first printing: "First Trade Edition" stated on the copyright page with a full number line running down to 1; the unclipped jacket carries the printed price (jacket designed by Honi Werner). A signed limited edition was also issued.

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

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club issue: smaller, no number line, blind-stamp to the rear board, and no price printed on the jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Cider House Rules* by John Irving a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-cider-house-rules
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.