The points of issue
'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with a descending number line; Hyperion imprint; dust jacket with the printed price present. The author's debut novel.
Is this the true first?
The US Hyperion hardcover of 1993 is the true first. The book was a 1994 PEN/Faulkner finalist and an early landmark of Asian-American fiction.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the first-edition statement, run smaller, and carry an unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Bone a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with a descending number line; Hyperion imprint; dust jacket with the printed price present. The author's debut novel.
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 Hyperion hardcover of 1993 is the true first. The book was a 1994 PEN/Faulkner finalist and an early landmark of Asian-American fiction.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions lack the first-edition statement, run smaller, and carry an unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of Bone — 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.