The points of issue
Copyright-page number line reads '1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2' — this exact sequence is the key first-printing point. Quarter black cloth spine over green boards with gilt lettering; pictorial dust jacket priced the printed price, unclipped. ISBN 1-57322-245-3.
Is this the true first?
The US Riverhead first is the true first, preceding the UK Bloomsbury edition (2003). Hosseini's debut novel.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings show altered number lines lacking the leading 1. Book-club and reprint copies are far more common than the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Kite Runner a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright-page number line reads '1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2' — this exact sequence is the key first-printing point. Quarter black cloth spine over green boards with gilt lettering; pictorial dust jacket priced the printed price, unclipped. ISBN 1-57322-245-3.
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 first is the true first, preceding the UK Bloomsbury edition (2003). Hosseini's debut novel.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings show altered number lines lacking the leading 1. Book-club and reprint copies are far more common than the true first.
I have a first edition of The Kite Runner — 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.