The points of issue
Copyright page states 'First Edition' with a number line ending in 1; Pantheon (Knopf Doubleday) imprint; first-issue dust jacket carries the printed retail price. Screenplay-format text throughout.
Is this the true first?
The US Pantheon hardcover (2020) is the true first; the book won the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book-club issue. Confirm the stated 'First Edition' and a number line ending in 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Interior Chinatown a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'First Edition' with a number line ending in 1; Pantheon (Knopf Doubleday) imprint; first-issue dust jacket carries the printed retail price. Screenplay-format text throughout.
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 Pantheon hardcover (2020) is the true first; the book won the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No significant book-club issue. Confirm the stated 'First Edition' and a number line ending in 1.
I have a first edition of Interior Chinatown — 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.