The points of issue
French original 'Pyongyang' (L'Association, Paris, 2003) is the true first. First English edition: Drawn & Quarterly, 2005, translated by Helge Dascher, ISBN 1-896597-89-0 (978-1-896597-89-8), first printing with no statement of a later printing on the indicia.
Is this the true first?
The French L'Association edition (2003) is the true first; the Drawn & Quarterly English edition (2005) is the first English-language edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition known.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: French original 'Pyongyang' (L'Association, Paris, 2003) is the true first. First English edition: Drawn & Quarterly, 2005, translated by Helge Dascher, ISBN 1-896597-89-0 (978-1-896597-89-8), first printing with no statement of a later printing on the indicia.
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 French L'Association edition (2003) is the true first; the Drawn & Quarterly English edition (2005) is the first English-language edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition known.
I have a first edition of Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea — 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.