The points of issue
Copyright page reads 'First U.S. edition 2011' with a complete number line ending in 1; bound in white boards stamped in black with a green, black and white dust jacket carrying the printed price. Issued before Ward's wider fame; first printing modest.
Is this the true first?
The US Bloomsbury edition (2011) is the true first; it won the 2011 National Book Award. As the earliest of Ward's award-winning novels with a small print run, the first printing is scarce.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition; confirm via the 'First U.S. edition 2011' statement and the number line to 1. Post-award printings drop the trailing numbers and add National Book Award winner blurbs.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Salvage the Bones a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page reads 'First U.S. edition 2011' with a complete number line ending in 1; bound in white boards stamped in black with a green, black and white dust jacket carrying the printed price. Issued before Ward's wider fame; first printing modest.
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 Bloomsbury edition (2011) is the true first; it won the 2011 National Book Award. As the earliest of Ward's award-winning novels with a small print run, the first printing is scarce.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition; confirm via the 'First U.S. edition 2011' statement and the number line to 1. Post-award printings drop the trailing numbers and add National Book Award winner blurbs.
I have a first edition of Salvage the Bones — 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.