The points of issue
First edition so stated with a full number line down to 1. Bound in brown paper over boards with the spine backed in red and lettered in silver; dust jacket carries the printed price. Many first-printing copies also originally contained a publisher's erratum slip, frequently absent now. Díaz's debut story collection.
Is this the true first?
The US Riverhead first precedes the UK Faber edition. The hardcover first is scarcer than the simultaneous trade paperback.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition; reprints appear as later trade paperbacks under different ISBNs.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Drown a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition so stated with a full number line down to 1. Bound in brown paper over boards with the spine backed in red and lettered in silver; dust jacket carries the printed price. Many first-printing copies also originally contained a publisher's erratum slip, frequently absent now. Díaz's debut story collection.
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 Riverhead first precedes the UK Faber edition. The hardcover first is scarcer than the simultaneous trade paperback.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition; reprints appear as later trade paperbacks under different ISBNs.
I have a first edition of Drown — 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.