The points of issue
First edition in English, cloth in dust jacket, 1972, translated by Norman Thomas di Giovanni. Renders the Spanish Historia universal de la infamia; the di Giovanni text follows Borges's 1954 revised Spanish version, so it includes material added after the 1935 original.
Is this the true first?
True first of the work is the Spanish Historia universal de la infamia (Editorial Tor, Buenos Aires, 1935), revised by Borges in 1954. The 1972 Dutton is the first English edition; UK Allen Lane/Penguin followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Penguin and later paperbacks are reprints, not the Dutton cloth first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Universal History of Infamy a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition in English, cloth in dust jacket, 1972, translated by Norman Thomas di Giovanni. Renders the Spanish Historia universal de la infamia; the di Giovanni text follows Borges's 1954 revised Spanish version, so it includes material added after the 1935 original.
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. True first of the work is the Spanish Historia universal de la infamia (Editorial Tor, Buenos Aires, 1935), revised by Borges in 1954. The 1972 Dutton is the first English edition; UK Allen Lane/Penguin followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Penguin and later paperbacks are reprints, not the Dutton cloth first.
I have a first edition of A Universal History of Infamy — 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.