How to identify a first printing
- 1973-present: A first printing is indicated by 'First Edition' / 'Primera Edición' wording on the copyright page and/or a descending number line whose lowest digit is 1; absence of any later-printing or reprint notice on an otherwise-original title is consistent with a first printing. As with most academic/small-press houses, practice is not perfectly uniform across the long backlist, so confirm against the specific copyright page rather than assuming a single fixed convention.
- Bilingual and dual-language titles: the press's own copyright-page printing statement governs the Bilingual Press edition; for a translated or dual-language work this is the first Bilingual Press printing regardless of any prior Spanish-only or English-only publication elsewhere.
- Clásicos Chicanos / Chicano Classics series reissues earlier Chicano works — for those, the Bilingual Press printing statement, not the original composition or first-publication date, identifies the Bilingual Press printing.
- Distinguish the book imprint from the associated journal (Bilingual Review / La Revista Bilingüe), which is a separate serial.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1973 by Gary D. Keller (Gary Francisco Keller); originated at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, and moved to Arizona State University, Tempe, in 1986 when Keller joined what became the Hispanic Research Center.
- A leading press for Chicano/Latino literature and scholarship, established when mainstream houses largely ignored Chicano writing; backlist exceeds 150 titles in English, Spanish, and bilingual editions.
- Published authors including Rolando Hinojosa, Miguel Méndez, Alejandro Morales, and Denise Chávez; the Clásicos Chicanos series recovered foundational Chicano texts.
- The bilingual / dual-language format and series-based recovery publishing are the distinctive identification considerations; the house is frequently referenced as 'Bilingual Review Press,' which collectors should treat as the same publisher.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Bilingual Press / Editorial Bilingüe (also widely cited as Bilingual Review Press), Bilingual Review / La Revista Bilingüe (associated journal, first issued 1976), Clásicos Chicanos / Chicano Classics series. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Bilingual Press / Editorial Bilingüe book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1973-present: A first printing is indicated by 'First Edition' / 'Primera Edición' wording on the copyright page and/or a descending number line whose lowest digit is 1; absence of any later-printing or reprint notice on an otherwise-original title is consistent with a first printing. As with most academic/small-press houses, practice is not perfectly uniform across the long backlist, so confirm against the specific copyright page rather than assuming a single fixed convention. Bilingual and dual-language titles: the press's own copyright-page printing statement governs the Bilingual Press edition; for a translated or dual-language work this is the first Bilingual Press printing regardless of any prior Spanish-only or English-only publication elsewhere.
Does Bilingual Press / Editorial Bilingüe use a number line?
Bilingual and dual-language titles: the press's own copyright-page printing statement governs the Bilingual Press edition; for a translated or dual-language work this is the first Bilingual Press printing regardless of any prior Spanish-only or English-only publication elsewhere.
Is a book-club edition a Bilingual Press / Editorial Bilingüe first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1973 by Gary D. Keller (Gary Francisco Keller); originated at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, and moved to Arizona State University, Tempe, in 1986 when Keller joined what became the Hispanic Research Center.
What era does this cover?
This covers Bilingual Press / Editorial Bilingüe (1973-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.