The points of issue
Doubleday copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with a full number line descending to 1; Doubleday anchor colophon. A true first carries the unclipped flap price. Bender's best-known novel.
Is this the true first?
US Doubleday hardcover (June 2010) is the true first; the UK edition followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions are lighter in weight and lack the number line and the flap price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Doubleday copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with a full number line descending to 1; Doubleday anchor colophon. A true first carries the unclipped flap price. Bender's best-known novel.
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. US Doubleday hardcover (June 2010) is the true first; the UK edition followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions are lighter in weight and lack the number line and the flap price.
I have a first edition of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake — 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.