The points of issue
First printing. A signed limited issue of 250 numbered copies in a publisher's slipcase exists; the trade UK Bodley Head issue is in green cloth with gilt spine, green top-stain, jacket priced 5.95 net.
Is this the true first?
The Canadian Lester & Orpen Dennys edition of 1982 is cited by dealers as preceding the UK Bodley Head edition; Simon & Schuster issued the first US edition in 1982. A separate signed limited issue of 250 numbered copies confirms the existence of the signed/limited variant.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club printings followed later.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Monsignor Quixote a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing. A signed limited issue of 250 numbered copies in a publisher's slipcase exists; the trade UK Bodley Head issue is in green cloth with gilt spine, green top-stain, jacket priced 5.95 net.
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. The Canadian Lester & Orpen Dennys edition of 1982 is cited by dealers as preceding the UK Bodley Head edition; Simon & Schuster issued the first US edition in 1982. A separate signed limited issue of 250 numbered copies confirms the existence of the signed/limited variant.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club printings followed later.
I have a first edition of Monsignor Quixote — 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.