The points of issue
Riverhead Books hardcover with a number line ending in 1 and the Riverhead/Penguin imprint statement on the copyright page. First-state dust jacket has no National Book Award reference and carries the original printed price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
The US Riverhead hardcover of 2013 is the true first edition. It won the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction. The true first predates the award; later jacket states add the award medallion.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Confirm the number line down to 1 and the absence of any award seal on the jacket for the true first printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Good Lord Bird a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Riverhead Books hardcover with a number line ending in 1 and the Riverhead/Penguin imprint statement on the copyright page. First-state dust jacket has no National Book Award reference and carries the original printed price on the front flap.
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 Riverhead hardcover of 2013 is the true first edition. It won the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction. The true first predates the award; later jacket states add the award medallion.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Confirm the number line down to 1 and the absence of any award seal on the jacket for the true first printing.
I have a first edition of The Good Lord Bird — 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.