How to identify a first printing
- Independent era (1975-2010): first printing identified by 'First edition'/'First printing' and/or a number line whose lowest digit is 1. Absence of a later-printing notice indicates a first printing.
- On bilingual/translation titles, the first English-language Curbstone printing is governed by the Curbstone copyright-page statement, regardless of any prior Spanish-language publication.
- Northwestern era (2010-present): follows Northwestern University Press house practice — a 'First [Edition]' statement with number line; first printing = line ending in 1. Treat post-2010 titles as Northwestern UP for identification purposes.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1975 in Willimantic, Connecticut by Judith Doyle and Alexander 'Sandy' Taylor (who met as students at the University of Connecticut); mission centered on human rights, social justice, and Latin American literature.
- Published Claribel Alegria, Roque Dalton, Luis J. Rodriguez ('Always Running'), and Ernesto Cardenal in translation.
- After the founders' deaths (Taylor 2007, Doyle 2009), the roughly 160-title backlist was acquired by Northwestern University Press in 2010 and continues as the Curbstone Books imprint.
- Era split matters: independent Curbstone (collectible) versus Northwestern-era Curbstone Books (academic-press ID rules).
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Curbstone Press (independent 1975-2010), Curbstone Books (imprint of Northwestern University Press 2010-present). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Curbstone Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Independent era (1975-2010): first printing identified by 'First edition'/'First printing' and/or a number line whose lowest digit is 1. Absence of a later-printing notice indicates a first printing. On bilingual/translation titles, the first English-language Curbstone printing is governed by the Curbstone copyright-page statement, regardless of any prior Spanish-language publication.
Does Curbstone Press use a number line?
On bilingual/translation titles, the first English-language Curbstone printing is governed by the Curbstone copyright-page statement, regardless of any prior Spanish-language publication.
Is a book-club edition a Curbstone Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1975 in Willimantic, Connecticut by Judith Doyle and Alexander 'Sandy' Taylor (who met as students at the University of Connecticut); mission centered on human rights, social justice, and Latin American literature.
What era does this cover?
This covers Curbstone Press (1975-2010 independent; 2010-present as Northwestern UP imprint). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.