The points of issue
Italian 'Se una notte d'inverno un viaggiatore,' Einaudi, Turin, 1979. First English edition Harcourt Brace Jovanovich New York 1981 (trans. William Weaver); UK Secker & Warburg 1981.
Is this the true first?
True first is the Italian Einaudi 1979. First in English is Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1981 (US).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings shown by number line; English firsts distinguished by imprint and pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of If on a winter's night a traveler a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Italian 'Se una notte d'inverno un viaggiatore,' Einaudi, Turin, 1979. First English edition Harcourt Brace Jovanovich New York 1981 (trans. William Weaver); UK Secker & Warburg 1981.
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 is the Italian Einaudi 1979. First in English is Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1981 (US).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings shown by number line; English firsts distinguished by imprint and pricing.
I have a first edition of If on a winter's night a traveler — 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.