# 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, of this collection of previously published essays. US true first (Alfred A.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Alfred A. Knopf first printing, 1981, of this collection of previously published essays. 'First Edition' is stated on the copyright page beneath the Borzoi (running-dog) colophon, with no later-printing line
- Bound in black cloth, the spine and front board stamped in gilt; approximately 306 pages
- The first-state dust jacket is glossy light pink with black lettering and carries a photograph of Tuchman; the printed price should be present on the front flap
- 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, of this collection of previously published essays. 'First Edition' is stated on the copyright page… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Alfred A. Knopf first printing, 1981, of this collection of previously published essays. 'First Edition' is stated on the copyright page beneath the Borzoi (running-dog) colophon, with no later-printing line. Bound in black cloth, the spine and front board stamped in gilt; approximately 306 pages. The first-state dust jacket is glossy light pink with black lettering and carries a photograph of Tuchman; the printed price should be present on the front flap.

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

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No prominent book-club edition noted; the identifier is the stated 'First Edition' line beneath the Borzoi colophon together with the priced pink photographic jacket.

## 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 2026-07-04.