The points of issue
London: Heinemann, 1958. 'First published 1958' on the verso. Original blue cloth lettered in gilt to the spine, in the first-issue pictorial dust jacket (purple ground, designed by Donald Green).
Is this the true first?
The UK Heinemann edition of 1958 precedes the US Viking edition of 1958.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Reprints carry impression statements; the correct first-issue jacket is the purple Donald Green pictorial design.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Our Man in Havana a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: London: Heinemann, 1958. 'First published 1958' on the verso. Original blue cloth lettered in gilt to the spine, in the first-issue pictorial dust jacket (purple ground, designed by Donald Green).
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 UK Heinemann edition of 1958 precedes the US Viking edition of 1958.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Reprints carry impression statements; the correct first-issue jacket is the purple Donald Green pictorial design.
I have a first edition of Our Man in Havana — 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.