The points of issue
The US Simon & Schuster trade first edition (New York, 1993) is the true first: a full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page, stated First Edition, 589 pp, blue cloth and beige paper boards with gilt spine lettering, and a first-state jacket (design by Wendell Minor, painting by Maynard Dixon) with the printed price. It is the sequel to Lonesome Dove.
Is this the true first?
The US Simon & Schuster trade first is the true first edition. Series collectors pair it with a first of Lonesome Dove. No publisher-issued signed/limited slipcased Simon & Schuster edition of this title could be verified from reliable sources, so that claim has been removed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Doubleday Book Club / Literary Guild club editions lack the number line, carry a rear-board blind-stamp or gutter code, and have no printed jacket price. The trade first is identified by the full number line to 1 and a priced first-state jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Streets of Laredo a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The US Simon & Schuster trade first edition (New York, 1993) is the true first: a full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page, stated First Edition, 589 pp, blue cloth and beige paper boards with gilt spine lettering, and a first-state jacket (design by Wendell Minor, painting by Maynard Dixon) with the printed price. It is the sequel to Lonesome Dove.
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 US Simon & Schuster trade first is the true first edition. Series collectors pair it with a first of Lonesome Dove. No publisher-issued signed/limited slipcased Simon & Schuster edition of this title could be verified from reliable sources, so that claim has been removed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Doubleday Book Club / Literary Guild club editions lack the number line, carry a rear-board blind-stamp or gutter code, and have no printed jacket price. The trade first is identified by the full number line to 1 and a priced first-state jacket.
I have a first edition of Streets of Laredo — 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.