The points of issue
FSG first printing: 'First edition, 1989' stated on the copyright page. Issued in red cloth with two small gilt crowns on the front board and gilt spine lettering; first-issue dust jacket (design by Fred Marcellino) carries the printed retail price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
The US FSG 1989 edition is the true first. The stated 'First edition, 1989' on the copyright page is the defining point. Winner of the 1990 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction; Hijuelos was the first Latino author to win the Pulitzer for Fiction.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issues lack the 'First edition, 1989' statement and the printed jacket price (often blind-stamped on the rear board).
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: FSG first printing: 'First edition, 1989' stated on the copyright page. Issued in red cloth with two small gilt crowns on the front board and gilt spine lettering; first-issue dust jacket (design by Fred Marcellino) carries the printed retail price on the front flap.
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 FSG 1989 edition is the true first. The stated 'First edition, 1989' on the copyright page is the defining point. Winner of the 1990 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction; Hijuelos was the first Latino author to win the Pulitzer for Fiction.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club issues lack the 'First edition, 1989' statement and the printed jacket price (often blind-stamped on the rear board).
I have a first edition of The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love — 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.