The points of issue
First English edition. Harper & Row, New York, 1975, black cloth boards with gilt lettering, 601 pages, translated by Gregory Rabassa. Translation of 'Conversacion en La Catedral.' First American edition, first printing.
Is this the true first?
True first of the work is the Spanish 'Conversacion en La Catedral' (Seix Barral, Barcelona, 1969). The 1975 Harper & Row is the first English edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later paperbacks (Avon, Farrar) are reprints, not the cloth first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Conversation in the Cathedral a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First English edition. Harper & Row, New York, 1975, black cloth boards with gilt lettering, 601 pages, translated by Gregory Rabassa. Translation of 'Conversacion en La Catedral.' First American edition, first printing.
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 'Conversacion en La Catedral' (Seix Barral, Barcelona, 1969). The 1975 Harper & Row is the first English edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later paperbacks (Avon, Farrar) are reprints, not the cloth first.
I have a first edition of Conversation in the Cathedral — 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.