The points of issue
First English edition, translated by Margaret Sayers Peden with the author: Farrar, Straus & Giroux cloth in dust jacket, New York, 1985. Translation of 'Gringo viejo.' Some signed copies exist.
Is this the true first?
The true first edition is the Spanish 'Gringo viejo' (Fondo de Cultura Económica, Mexico, 1985). The English Farrar, Straus & Giroux edition appeared in 1985 as well; the Spanish is generally cited as the true first, and some sources place the English translation in the year following the Spanish. The English text differs from the Spanish in wording and chapter count, reflecting the author's collaboration on the translation.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Harper/Farrar, Straus paperbacks are reprints, not the 1985 cloth first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Old Gringo a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First English edition, translated by Margaret Sayers Peden with the author: Farrar, Straus & Giroux cloth in dust jacket, New York, 1985. Translation of 'Gringo viejo.' Some signed copies exist.
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 true first edition is the Spanish 'Gringo viejo' (Fondo de Cultura Económica, Mexico, 1985). The English Farrar, Straus & Giroux edition appeared in 1985 as well; the Spanish is generally cited as the true first, and some sources place the English translation in the year following the Spanish. T
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later Harper/Farrar, Straus paperbacks are reprints, not the 1985 cloth first.
I have a first edition of The Old Gringo — 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.