The points of issue
The first printing copyright page states 'First edition, September 2008' and carries a full number line ending in 1 ('10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'). Gray boards with gilt spine title and a gilt mockingjay to the front board; first-issue jacket with the printed price and Tim O'Brien cover art.
Is this the true first?
The US Scholastic Press 2008 edition is the true first; the UK Scholastic edition is a separate issue.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings reuse the same plates, so the number line is decisive: book-club and later-printing copies do not carry the complete line ending in 1, may omit or alter the 'First edition' statement, and book-club copies can carry a blind-stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Hunger Games a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The first printing copyright page states 'First edition, September 2008' and carries a full number line ending in 1 ('10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'). Gray boards with gilt spine title and a gilt mockingjay to the front board; first-issue jacket with the printed price and Tim O'Brien cover art.
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 Scholastic Press 2008 edition is the true first; the UK Scholastic edition is a separate issue.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings reuse the same plates, so the number line is decisive: book-club and later-printing copies do not carry the complete line ending in 1, may omit or alter the 'First edition' statement, and book-club copies can carry a blind-stamp.
I have a first edition of The Hunger Games — 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.