The points of issue
First edition states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a number line ending in 1, under the Knopf borzoi imprint; the dust jacket shows the printed price. A slim hardcover volume.
Is this the true first?
The US Knopf hardcover (2011) is the true first edition; the novel won the 2012 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book-club edition is recorded; confirm the 'First Edition' statement and number line on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Buddha in the Attic a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a number line ending in 1, under the Knopf borzoi imprint; the dust jacket shows the printed price. A slim hardcover volume.
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 Knopf hardcover (2011) is the true first edition; the novel won the 2012 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No significant book-club edition is recorded; confirm the 'First Edition' statement and number line on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of The Buddha in the Attic — 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.