The points of issue
Alfred A. Knopf hardcover, 2003 (ISBN 1400040728), a thick volume of 103 stories. First trade printing states 'First Edition' under the Borzoi/Knopf colophon with a complete number line, and the dust jacket carries the printed price. A separate signed limited edition was also issued.
Is this the true first?
The US Knopf hardcover (2003) is the true first; many stories appear in collected form here for the first time. It won the 2004 PEN/Faulkner Award.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No prominent book-club issue identified. Confirm 'First Edition' and the number line; the signed limited edition is a distinct issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Early Stories: 1953–1975 a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Alfred A. Knopf hardcover, 2003 (ISBN 1400040728), a thick volume of 103 stories. First trade printing states 'First Edition' under the Borzoi/Knopf colophon with a complete number line, and the dust jacket carries the printed price. A separate signed limited edition was also issued.
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 (2003) is the true first; many stories appear in collected form here for the first time. It won the 2004 PEN/Faulkner Award.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No prominent book-club issue identified. Confirm 'First Edition' and the number line; the signed limited edition is a distinct issue.
I have a first edition of The Early Stories: 1953–1975 — 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.