The points of issue
First US English edition, Pantheon Books, 2003 (ISBN 0-375-42230-4, hardcover; ISBN-13 978-0-375-42230-0). First printing identified by a number line ending in 1. Translated by Blake Ferris and Mattias Ripa; edited by Anjali Singh. This volume combines the first two French L'Association volumes.
Is this the true first?
The true first English-language edition (US Pantheon, 2003), but a translation; the French L'Association edition is the overall true first. The UK Jonathan Cape edition appeared the same year (2003).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition; the Complete Persepolis omnibus (2007) is a later collected edition, 'first thus' for the combined work.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Persepolis (English, Vol. 1) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First US English edition, Pantheon Books, 2003 (ISBN 0-375-42230-4, hardcover; ISBN-13 978-0-375-42230-0). First printing identified by a number line ending in 1. Translated by Blake Ferris and Mattias Ripa; edited by Anjali Singh. This volume combines the first two French L'Association volumes.
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 true first English-language edition (US Pantheon, 2003), but a translation; the French L'Association edition is the overall true first. The UK Jonathan Cape edition appeared the same year (2003).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition; the Complete Persepolis omnibus (2007) is a later collected edition, 'first thus' for the combined work.
I have a first edition of Persepolis (English, Vol. 1) — 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.