The points of issue
First American edition, translated by David Pritchard with Suzanne Jill Levine: Alfred A. Knopf cloth in dust jacket, New York, 1984 (352 pages; ISBN 0-394-50949-8). Translation of 'Casa de campo.'
Is this the true first?
The true first edition is the Spanish 'Casa de campo' (Seix Barral, 1978). The 1984 Knopf is generally cited as the first English-language edition; an Allen Lane UK edition also appeared in 1984, so verify priority if precision is needed, but the US Knopf is the standard cited first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later paperbacks (including the Knopf Aventura paperback) are reprints, not the 1984 cloth first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A House in the Country a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First American edition, translated by David Pritchard with Suzanne Jill Levine: Alfred A. Knopf cloth in dust jacket, New York, 1984 (352 pages; ISBN 0-394-50949-8). Translation of 'Casa de campo.'
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. The true first edition is the Spanish 'Casa de campo' (Seix Barral, 1978). The 1984 Knopf is generally cited as the first English-language edition; an Allen Lane UK edition also appeared in 1984, so verify priority if precision is needed, but the US Knopf is the standard cited first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later paperbacks (including the Knopf Aventura paperback) are reprints, not the 1984 cloth first.
I have a first edition of A House in the Country — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.