The points of issue
First US/first English edition, Alfred A. Knopf, 1987, cloth in dust jacket. Quarter cloth over paper boards with gilt spine lettering. Translation by Margaret Sayers Peden of De amor y de sombra; first printing per Knopf practice (no later printing statement on the copyright page). Signed copies exist.
Is this the true first?
True first is the Spanish De amor y de sombra (Plaza & Janes, Barcelona, 1984). The 1987 Knopf is the first edition in English.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club issue is possible; distinguish by blind-stamp on the rear board and a jacket lacking the printed price. Later paperbacks are reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Of Love and Shadows a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First US/first English edition, Alfred A. Knopf, 1987, cloth in dust jacket. Quarter cloth over paper boards with gilt spine lettering. Translation by Margaret Sayers Peden of De amor y de sombra; first printing per Knopf practice (no later printing statement on the copyright page). Signed copies exist.
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 De amor y de sombra (Plaza & Janes, Barcelona, 1984). The 1987 Knopf is the first edition in English.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book-club issue is possible; distinguish by blind-stamp on the rear board and a jacket lacking the printed price. Later paperbacks are reprints.
I have a first edition of Of Love and Shadows — 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.