The points of issue
First printing in publisher's cloth with the Coward-McCann imprint on the title page and no later-printing statement on the copyright page. A short novel of turn-of-the-century Cuba, illustrated by Ruth Lepper.
Is this the true first?
US first edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later reprints exist; only the 1940 Coward-McCann printing is the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Cuba Libre a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing in publisher's cloth with the Coward-McCann imprint on the title page and no later-printing statement on the copyright page. A short novel of turn-of-the-century Cuba, illustrated by Ruth Lepper.
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 first edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later reprints exist; only the 1940 Coward-McCann printing is the first.
I have a first edition of Cuba Libre — 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.