The points of issue
Viking Children's first edition, October 2008, ISBN 0-670-01090-1 (9780670010905), with full number line ending in 1 and the Viking imprint. Issued in the young-adult line; confirm an unclipped jacket flap price. Selected and expanded stories collection illustrated by Shaun Tan.
Is this the true first?
The US Viking hardcover (October 2008) is the true first. The UK Canongate edition appeared in 2009, after Viking, so the US Viking is the recognized first for this collection.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club and later paperback editions lack the number line and the flap price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Pretty Monsters a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Viking Children's first edition, October 2008, ISBN 0-670-01090-1 (9780670010905), with full number line ending in 1 and the Viking imprint. Issued in the young-adult line; confirm an unclipped jacket flap price. Selected and expanded stories collection illustrated by Shaun Tan.
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 Viking hardcover (October 2008) is the true first. The UK Canongate edition appeared in 2009, after Viking, so the US Viking is the recognized first for this collection.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club and later paperback editions lack the number line and the flap price.
I have a first edition of Pretty Monsters — 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.