The points of issue
Editorial Justa Publications, Inc., Berkeley, California, 1976; 209 pp. Anaya's second novel (following Bless Me, Ultima). Issued both in a scarce red-cloth hardcover (gilt lettering on spine and front board, largely for library distribution) and in pictorial card wrappers. Confirm the 1976 first-printing state on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
Editorial Justa 1976 is the true first, in both the hardcover (scarcer) and wrappered issues. Later reprints (e.g., University of New Mexico Press) are 'first thus.'
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club issue. Distinguish later editions by publisher imprint and added printing lines.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Heart of Aztlan a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Editorial Justa Publications, Inc., Berkeley, California, 1976; 209 pp. Anaya's second novel (following Bless Me, Ultima). Issued both in a scarce red-cloth hardcover (gilt lettering on spine and front board, largely for library distribution) and in pictorial card wrappers. Confirm the 1976 first-printing state on the copyright page.
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. Editorial Justa 1976 is the true first, in both the hardcover (scarcer) and wrappered issues. Later reprints (e.g., University of New Mexico Press) are 'first thus.'
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club issue. Distinguish later editions by publisher imprint and added printing lines.
I have a first edition of Heart of Aztlan — 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.