P. Scott Brown, Bookseller

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This bibliography of Gary Soto's books identifies the first editions of his books, along with significant other editions. His books are listed in chronological order, unless otherwise noted. This is a work in progress and will be revised as I have more time and in some cases, better information. If you have corrections or suggestions, please send them to me. 

Author's signature

A1.

a.

(Pittsburgh): University of Pittsburgh Press, (1977). Quarterbound in leather over marbled paper boards. Gold stamping on spine and a decorative band on the front cover. In an unprinted glassine dust jacket. 56 pages. Issued at $30.00.

First editions state "This first edition …" on colophon page.

A collection of poems published in an edition of 50 copies, signed and numbered by the author on the colophon.

Pitt Poetry Series

 NOTE: The price is listed as $20.00 on the rear panel of the The Tale of Sunlight.

(Pittsburgh): University of Pittsburgh Press, (1977). Purple cloth with silver stamping on spine. Small silver leaf embossed on the front board. Printed dust jacket. 56 pages. Issued at $6.95. 

First editions have no indication of printing on the copyright page.

 500 copies.

(Pittsburgh): University of Pittsburgh Press, (1977). Perfectbound in wrappers with the same cover art as the hardcover dust jacket. 56 pages. 

First editions have no indication of printing on the copyright page.

 1,500 copies.

(Pittsburgh): University of Pittsburgh Press, (1978). Marbled yellow paper covered boards with gold stamping on spine. Gold sun at top left corner.  Dust jacket. 61 pages.

First editions have no indication of printing on the copyright page.

Pitt Poetry Series

First edition, wrappers issue

(Pittsburgh): University of Pittsburgh Press, (1978). Perfectbound in wrappers with the same cover art as the hardcover dust jacket. 61 pages.

First editions have no indication of printing on the copyright page.

Pittsburgh: Slow Loris Press, (1980). White dust jacket with small red design over plain white wrappers. 20 pages. Issued at $4.95.

Poems.

Pittsburgh: Slow Loris Press, (1980). A five-by-seven inch postcard printed with a poem from Father Is a Pillow Tied to a Broom, published to promote the chapbook.

[larger image]

(Mexico, D.F.): (Editorial Latitudes), (1980) and (Berkeley): (Chicano Chapbook Series), (1980). A small-format book bound in red wrappers with the title and author printed in silver. 31 pages. Issued at $1.00(?). 

A short collection of previously published poems printed with translations into Spanish by Ernesto Trejo. This small book is bibliographically interesting as several of the poems have slightly different texts than the original published versions. Published as Colección Pozo y el Péndulo XX.

1,000 copies.

NOTE: This book is included as an "A" item, and not a translation because "The Widow Perez" makes its first appearance here.

(Pittsburgh): University of Pittsburgh Press, (1981). Green boards with gold lettering; small bird illustration at lower right corner. Dust jacket. [x]  [1-2] 3-65 [66-67 book list] [68-70 blanks]. 15x21 cm.

First editions have no indication of printing on the copyright page.

 Pitt Poetry Series

(Pittsburgh): University of Pittsburgh Press, (1981). Perfectbound in wrappers with the same cover art as the hardcover dust jacket. Same pagination as hardcover. 14x20.4 cm

First editions have no indication of printing on the copyright page.

 Pitt Paperback-176

Perfectbound in white wrappers illustrated with a drawing of a magnifying glass, ants and two shoes; title in lavender. Rear panel, with white printing, indicates that the book won a 1985 American Book Award. After examining many copies, I believe it is unlikely that there was a cover without mention of the prize. [1-8] 9-159 [blank]. 15.2x22.7 cm. Issued at $7.95.

First editions have no indication of printing on the copyright page. The book was reprinted at least four times by this publisher.

NOTE: The publication order of Living Up the Street and Black Hair (A8) is not certain. Each book includes the other in the list of previous books by the author. Black Hair gives the publication date of Living Up the Street as 1984 so I have presumed it came out first. This may be an incorrect assumption.

(Pittsburgh): University of Pittsburgh Press, (1985). Lightly marbled rust paper covered boards with the title stamped in orange. Dust jacket. [x]  [1-2] 3-78 [blank] [79-80 book list] [81-86 blanks]. 15x21 cm.

First editions have no indication of printing on the copyright page.

 Pitt Poetry Series

(Pittsburgh): University of Pittsburgh Press, (1985). Perfectbound in wrappers with the same cover art as the hardcover dust jacket. Same pagination as hardcover. 14x20.4 cm

First editions have no indication of printing on the copyright page.

 Pitt Paperback-209

Houston: Arte Publico Press, 1986. Perfectbound in gray wrappers illustrated with photos of the author and his family. [1-8] 9-126 [ two blanks]. 13.9x21.7 cm. .

First editions are so indicated on the copyright page ("First Edition"). As far as I know, the book was not reprinted by Arte Publico. See also The Effects of Knut Hamsun on a Fresno Boy.

A prose collection. 

NOTE: This is the only Arte Publico Press book I have seen with a first edition statement. The publisher's usual practice is to only indicate later printings.

First edition

(San Francisco): Strawberry Hill Press, (1987). Perfectbound in white wrappers illustrated with a drawing of a cat by Carolyn Soto, the author's wife. [1-5] 6-64. 13x19 cm. Issued at $4.95.

First editions have no indication of printing on the copyright page. As far as I know, the book was not reprinted. 

Illustrated by Carolyn Soto. A story for children.

NOTE: The Cat's Meow is one of Soto's scarcest books. I have seen only two copies in ten years.

New1 York: Scholastic, (1995). Yellow paper covered orange cloth. Line drawing of a cat in center of front board. Dust jacket. [ii] 1-78. 14.1x20 cm. Issued at $13.95.

First editions state:

 "First Scholastic printing, November 1995" & 
"12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1     5 6 7 8 9/9 0/0" 

on the copyright page. 

Illustrated by Joe Cepeda.

El maullido de la gata (new title)
New York: Scholastic, (1995). Perfectbound in wrappers with the same illustration as the first hardcover edition. [vii] 1-82 [83-85] [three blanks]. 14.1x20 cm. Issued at $2.99.

First editions state:

 "First Scholastic printing, November 1995" & 
"12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1     5 6 7 8 9/9 0/0"

on the copyright page. 

Illustrated by Joe Cepeda. Translated by Clarita Kohen.

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