The points of issue
TCG edition, 2008 (ISBN 978-1-55936-330-3 / 1-55936-330-4), trade paperback original. The true first printing is January 2008, states 'First Edition,' and carries no award blurbs or banners on the cover; a second printing followed in February 2008, so the first printing is comparatively scarce. No hardcover trade first.
Is this the true first?
The US TCG 2008 wrappers is the true first (2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award). A UK Nick Hern Books edition is a separate later publication.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Post-award TCG printings add 'Pulitzer Prize Winner' to the cover and carry a number line; the movie tie-in (2013) is a later 'first thus.'
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of August: Osage County a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: TCG edition, 2008 (ISBN 978-1-55936-330-3 / 1-55936-330-4), trade paperback original. The true first printing is January 2008, states 'First Edition,' and carries no award blurbs or banners on the cover; a second printing followed in February 2008, so the first printing is comparatively scarce. No hardcover trade first.
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. The US TCG 2008 wrappers is the true first (2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award). A UK Nick Hern Books edition is a separate later publication.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Post-award TCG printings add 'Pulitzer Prize Winner' to the cover and carry a number line; the movie tie-in (2013) is a later 'first thus.'
I have a first edition of August: Osage County — 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.