The points of issue
Winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. The Harcourt first edition (2007) was a paperback original in printed wrappers (Harcourt/Harvest), ISBN 978-0-15-603128-8; there was no separate jacketed trade hardcover. Look for first-printing indicia and a complete number line on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
US Harcourt (2007) is the true first, issued as a paperback original.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Failure a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. The Harcourt first edition (2007) was a paperback original in printed wrappers (Harcourt/Harvest), ISBN 978-0-15-603128-8; there was no separate jacketed trade hardcover. Look for first-printing indicia and a complete number line on the copyright page.
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. US Harcourt (2007) is the true first, issued as a paperback original.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition.
I have a first edition of Failure — 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.