The points of issue
Spanish 'El amor en los tiempos del cólera,' first published Bogotá 1985. First English edition Alfred A. Knopf New York 1988 (trans. Edith Grossman), first printing with number line, dust jacket priced.
Is this the true first?
True first is the Spanish 1985 edition. First in English is Knopf New York 1988, preceding UK Jonathan Cape 1988.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
US Knopf first distinguished from Cape UK by imprint; later printings shown by number line. Book club editions lack the priced first-state jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Love in the Time of Cholera a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Spanish 'El amor en los tiempos del cólera,' first published Bogotá 1985. First English edition Alfred A. Knopf New York 1988 (trans. Edith Grossman), first printing with number line, dust jacket priced.
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 Spanish 1985 edition. First in English is Knopf New York 1988, preceding UK Jonathan Cape 1988.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
US Knopf first distinguished from Cape UK by imprint; later printings shown by number line. Book club editions lack the priced first-state jacket.
I have a first edition of Love in the Time of Cholera — 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.