# Is "The General in His Labyrinth" by Gabriel García Márquez (trans. Edith Grossman) a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The General in His Labyrinth by Gabriel García Márquez (trans. Edith Grossman) (Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1990) is identified by: First English-language edition, Alfred A. The world first is the Spanish 'El general en su laberinto' (1989).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First English-language edition, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1990 (ISBN 0394582586), translated by Edith Grossman
- Bound in green cloth with gilt spine lettering blocked in black
- The first printing has no number line on the copyright page; the dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap, which should be present
- Translation of 'El general en su laberinto.'
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf, New York
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Gabriel García Márquez (trans. Edith Grossman) |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf, New York |
| Year | 1990 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First English-language edition, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1990 (ISBN 0394582586), translated by Edith Grossman |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First English-language edition, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1990 (ISBN 0394582586), translated by Edith Grossman. Bound in green cloth with gilt spine lettering blocked in black. The first printing has no number line on the copyright page; the dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap, which should be present. 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. A signed limited edition in full leather with gilt spine stamping was also issued.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later paperbacks are reprints; the 1991 UK Cape edition is a separate later first, not a reprint of the US. Book-club copies lack the printed jacket price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The General in His Labyrinth* by Gabriel García Márquez (trans. Edith Grossman) a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-general-in-his-labyrinth
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.