The points of issue
Copyright page states First Edition with a complete number line ending in 1. First-state dust jacket has no silver or gold award emblem and carries the original printed price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
The US Harper (HarperCollins) hardcover of 2012 is the true first edition. It won the 2012 National Book Award for Fiction.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Distinguish the true first by the stated First Edition, the full number line ending in 1, and a first-state jacket without the award emblem. Later jacket states add the award seal.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Round House a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states First Edition with a complete number line ending in 1. First-state dust jacket has no silver or gold award emblem 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 Harper (HarperCollins) hardcover of 2012 is the true first edition. It won the 2012 National Book Award for Fiction.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Distinguish the true first by the stated First Edition, the full number line ending in 1, and a first-state jacket without the award emblem. Later jacket states add the award seal.
I have a first edition of The Round House — 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.