The points of issue
First English-language edition; Alfred A. Knopf cloth in dust jacket, 1990, translated by Edith Grossman. Green cloth with gilt and black lettering. Translation of 'El general en su laberinto.'
Is this the true first?
The world first is the Spanish 'El general en su laberinto' (1989). The 1990 Knopf is the first edition in English, preceding the Jonathan Cape London edition of 1991.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later paperbacks are reprints; the 1991 UK edition is a separate later first, not a reprint of the US.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The General in His Labyrinth a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First English-language edition; Alfred A. Knopf cloth in dust jacket, 1990, translated by Edith Grossman. Green cloth with gilt and black lettering. Translation of 'El general en su laberinto.'
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 world first is the Spanish 'El general en su laberinto' (1989). The 1990 Knopf is the first edition in English, preceding the Jonathan Cape London edition of 1991.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later paperbacks are reprints; the 1991 UK edition is a separate later first, not a reprint of the US.
I have a first edition of The General in His Labyrinth — 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.