# Is "The Moviegoer" by Walker Percy a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Moviegoer by Walker Percy (Alfred A. Knopf, 1961) is identified by: First edition states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with the Knopf Borzoi device; the author's debut and National Book Award winner. US Knopf is the true first; UK Eyre & Spottiswoode (1963) is later.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with the Knopf Borzoi device; the author's debut and National Book Award winner
- Original jacket with its printed price
- First-issue jacket has the original (pre-award) blurbs and no later-printing notice; the first printing was small
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Walker Percy |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 1961 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with the Knopf Borzoi device; the author's debut and National Book Award winner |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with the Knopf Borzoi device; the author's debut and National Book Award winner. Original jacket with its printed price. First-issue jacket has the original (pre-award) blurbs and no later-printing notice; the first printing was small.

## Is this the true first?
US Knopf is the true first; UK Eyre & Spottiswoode (1963) is later. As Percy's scarce debut with a small first printing, genuine firsts are sought; later jackets add the National Book Award notice.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club edition lacks 'FIRST EDITION', has a blind-stamp, and uses bulkier paper; post-award jackets carry the award seal/notice.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Moviegoer* by Walker Percy a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-moviegoer
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.