The points of issue
Simon & Schuster, New York, 1991. Quarter red cloth over orange paper boards, blind-stamped front board, gilt-lettered spine; 763,[1] pp; color typographic endpapers. 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the number line. Original unclipped color pictorial dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Simon & Schuster 1991 is the true first (Silko's second novel).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Watch for issues lacking the number line, with a blind-stamp to the rear board, or a price-clipped jacket; these are not the collectible first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Almanac of the Dead a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Simon & Schuster, New York, 1991. Quarter red cloth over orange paper boards, blind-stamped front board, gilt-lettered spine; 763,[1] pp; color typographic endpapers. 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the number line. Original unclipped color pictorial dust jacket.
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. US Simon & Schuster 1991 is the true first (Silko's second novel).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Watch for issues lacking the number line, with a blind-stamp to the rear board, or a price-clipped jacket; these are not the collectible first.
I have a first edition of Almanac of the Dead — 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.