The points of issue
Hardcover, Fantagraphics Books, 2000 (ISBN 1-56097-392-7), with an introduction by Christopher Hitchens. The deluxe hardcover was published June 2000 and preceded the softcover (ISBN 1-56097-470-2).
Is this the true first?
The Fantagraphics hardcover is the true first edition; the hardcover preceded the paperback. The work was created for book publication and not serialized.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition; the softcover and the 10th-anniversary expanded 'Special Edition' (2011) are later, not the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Safe Area Goražde a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Hardcover, Fantagraphics Books, 2000 (ISBN 1-56097-392-7), with an introduction by Christopher Hitchens. The deluxe hardcover was published June 2000 and preceded the softcover (ISBN 1-56097-470-2).
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 Fantagraphics hardcover is the true first edition; the hardcover preceded the paperback. The work was created for book publication and not serialized.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition; the softcover and the 10th-anniversary expanded 'Special Edition' (2011) are later, not the first.
I have a first edition of Safe Area Goražde — 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.