Pillar Guide • NM Coming-of-Age Canon — Santa Fe / Corrales — 1968 & 1973
Selling Richard Bradford Books in Albuquerque
Red Sky at Morning (1968), So Far From Heaven (1973), and the Santa Fe wartime coming-of-age estate shelf
Richard Bradford · 1932–2002
Richard Bradford wrote exactly two novels, both set in northern New Mexico, and one of them — the 1968 J.B. Lippincott Red Sky at Morning — has been in print continuously for fifty-seven years and is on more New Mexico high-school reading lists than any other twentieth-century NM-set novel. It’s the wartime coming-of-age story of Joshua Arnold, a seventeen-year-old Mobile, Alabama boy sent to spend World War II in the fictional town of Sagrado, New Mexico (which Bradford based on Santa Fe and Corrales). Bradford died in Santa Fe in March 2002. His signature pool is closed.
Last verified May 2026 · Original research by Josh Eldred
Because Red Sky at Morning is the single New Mexico coming-of-age novel that every NM-raised reader has encountered, which means it is the most frequent single-title appearance on New Mexico estate shelves from the late 1960s onward. Owners of inherited 1968 Lippincott firsts often have no idea the book has collector value — they think of it as the paperback they read in high school. 1968 Lippincott first edition first-printing hardcovers with the original jacket, especially in sharp condition, are the prime collectible. The second novel (So Far From Heaven, 1973) is considerably scarcer and deserves attention.
The Corpus
Richard Bradford — first editions by year
Red Sky at Morning
1968 · J.B. Lippincott
The novel. First edition first printing, stated on copyright page, with original dust jacket. 1971 film tie-in edition is distinct from 1968 Lippincott first.
So Far From Heaven
1973 · J.B. Lippincott
The second and final novel. Scarce. Very underappreciated in regional-literature canons.
Screen Adaptations
Film & television adaptations
Red Sky at Morning — 1971 Universal, directed by James Goldstone, starring Richard Thomas, Catherine Burns, Desi Arnaz Jr., and Richard Crenna. Filmed largely on location in Santa Fe and Corrales.
The Estate Shelf
Estate-shelf fingerprint
The Bradford estate shelf is almost always a Santa Fe, Corrales, North Valley Albuquerque, or Los Alamos estate where the homeowner went to New Mexico high schools in the 1970s, 1980s, or 1990s and read Red Sky at Morning as required reading. The book often appears as: (a) a 1968 Lippincott hardcover first kept from a parent’s or grandparent’s shelf; (b) a 1971 film tie-in paperback; (c) a 1988 Harper Perennial Modern Classics reprint. All three can live in the same household across three generations. A sharp 1968 Lippincott first in jacket is the serious collectible.
Value Tiers
Pricing & condition notes
1968 Lippincott Red Sky at Morning first edition first printings in sharp dust jackets land in the mid three-figure range signed; unsigned firsts in jacket in sharp condition run upper double to low three figures. The 1971 film tie-in paperback is ubiquitous and runs sub-modest value. The 1988 Harper Perennial Modern Classics reprint is the common paperback you see in every NM thrift store — sub-modest value. 1973 So Far From Heaven Lippincott firsts in jacket run in the mid-two figures, higher in sharp condition.
Common Mistakes
What not to do
Do not confuse the 1988 Harper Perennial Modern Classics reprint paperback with the 1968 Lippincott hardcover first — the paperback is abundant and inexpensive. Do not assume every Red Sky at Morning is the same book — Bradford wrote one novel by this title; the Lippincott hardcover first is the one. Do not discard the second novel (So Far From Heaven, 1973) — it is much scarcer and deserves collector attention. The Bradford signature is closed-pool and should always be verified against known exemplars because forgeries do circulate.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What's the most collectible Richard Bradford book?+
The tentpole first editions are: Red Sky at Morning (1968, J.B. Lippincott) and So Far From Heaven (1973, J.B. Lippincott). 1968 Lippincott Red Sky at Morning first edition first printings in sharp dust jackets land in the mid three-figure range signed; unsigned firsts in jacket in sharp condition run upper double to low three figures.
How do I tell a true first edition from a later printing?+
Check the copyright page for stated first printing language (usually 'First Edition' or a number line starting with 1). Confirm the publisher matches the original publisher listed above — reprint editions often change publishers. Verify the jacket design matches the known first-edition image for that title; reprints are frequently reissued with new jacket art. If any printing language says 'Revised Edition' or 'Second Edition' or 'Anniversary Edition,' it is not a first.
Is Richard Bradford's signature collectible?+
His signature pool closed at his death in Mar 14 2002. Signed copies carry a premium over unsigned firsts — roughly double at the collector tier. Inscribed copies to a named Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos, or regional recipient carry the highest premium because they root the book in its home community. Signatures should always be verified against known exemplars before any high-value transaction.
Who owns the Richard Bradford shelf in Albuquerque?+
The Bradford estate shelf is almost always a Santa Fe, Corrales, North Valley Albuquerque, or Los Alamos estate where the homeowner went to New Mexico high schools in the 1970s, 1980s, or 1990s and read Red Sky at Morning as required reading. The book often appears as: (a) a 1968 Lippincott hardcover first kept from a parent’s or grandparent’s shelf; (b) a 1971 film tie-in paperback; (c) a 1988 Harper Perennial Modern Classics reprint. All three can live in the same household across three generations. A sharp 1968 Lippincott first in jacket is the serious collectible.
How do I sell my Richard Bradford collection?+
I run two operations. I take complete Albuquerque-area library donations for free pickup — I sort, grade, and handle the entire collection. For individual high-value Richard Bradford firsts where you already know what you own, I run SellBooksABQ for individual title buy-backs. Either way, I handle Richard Bradford's corpus regularly and I know the pricing, the condition issues, and the signature-authentication work. Contact me at 702-496-4214 or book a free pickup through the website.
Adjacent Pillars
Related pillars on Richard Bradford's estate shelf
Free pickup in Albuquerque and the Rio Grande corridor. I come to the house, I sort and grade the collection, I handle every title — the common reading copies, the mid-tier firsts, and the pillar-tier signature pieces. No stress, no donation-center triage, no trip to Goodwill.