The points of issue
Copyright page states First Edition with the Borzoi (Knopf) colophon; the true first also requires the number line to include 1, since Knopf retains the First Edition statement on later printings while dropping the 1. Octavo, about 305 pages; hardcover ISBN 9781101947135. First-issue jacket carries the original printed price on the front flap. The Powell's Indiespensable slipcased issue with author chapbook is a separate collectible variant, not the trade first.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf is the true first (debut novel, 2016); the UK Viking edition followed. Strong demand for a celebrated debut; signed firsts are sought.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No traditional BCE; Knopf firsts are told by the First Edition statement plus the Borzoi colophon together with a number line that still includes 1. The slipcased Indiespensable issue is a distinct special edition, not the standard trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Homegoing a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states First Edition with the Borzoi (Knopf) colophon; the true first also requires the number line to include 1, since Knopf retains the First Edition statement on later printings while dropping the 1. Octavo, about 305 pages; hardcover ISBN 9781101947135. First-issue jacket carries the original printed price on the front flap. The Powell's Indiespensable slipcased issue with author chapbook is a separate collectible variant, not the 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. US Knopf is the true first (debut novel, 2016); the UK Viking edition followed. Strong demand for a celebrated debut; signed firsts are sought.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No traditional BCE; Knopf firsts are told by the First Edition statement plus the Borzoi colophon together with a number line that still includes 1. The slipcased Indiespensable issue is a distinct special edition, not the standard trade first.
I have a first edition of Homegoing — 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.