The points of issue
Random House, New York, 1991. Cisneros's first book with a major trade publisher. The true first is the hardcover (ISBN 0-394-57654-3) with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page and the number line ending in 1; rust-brown paper boards with a dark cloth spine and metallic spine lettering. Original unclipped pictorial dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Random House 1991 hardcover is the true first and the collectible issue. A trade paperback was also available; the stated-First-Edition hardcover precedes it as the collectible point.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Watch for later printings lacking the number line ending in 1, and for paperback issues; these are not the collectible first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Random House, New York, 1991. Cisneros's first book with a major trade publisher. The true first is the hardcover (ISBN 0-394-57654-3) with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page and the number line ending in 1; rust-brown paper boards with a dark cloth spine and metallic spine lettering. Original unclipped pictorial dust jacket.
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. US Random House 1991 hardcover is the true first and the collectible issue. A trade paperback was also available; the stated-First-Edition hardcover precedes it as the collectible point.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Watch for later printings lacking the number line ending in 1, and for paperback issues; these are not the collectible first.
I have a first edition of Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories — 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.