The points of issue
Copyright page carries a complete number line descending to 1; first-issue dust jacket carries the printed retail price on the front flap. Foer's debut novel.
Is this the true first?
The US Houghton Mifflin hardcover is the true first; the UK Hamish Hamilton edition follows. The hardcover first precedes the trade-paperback reprint.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No notable book-club edition; later printings show a shortened number line, and reprints appear under paperback imprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Everything Is Illuminated a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page carries a complete number line descending to 1; first-issue dust jacket carries the printed retail price on the front flap. Foer'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 Houghton Mifflin hardcover is the true first; the UK Hamish Hamilton edition follows. The hardcover first precedes the trade-paperback reprint.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No notable book-club edition; later printings show a shortened number line, and reprints appear under paperback imprints.
I have a first edition of Everything Is Illuminated — 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.