The points of issue
Cloth-backed boards; copyright page states 'First Edition' with the Random House number line whose lowest digit is 2 (Random House trade convention), not 1; first-state dust jacket priced. Published New York, 2010.
Is this the true first?
US Random House (New York) true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Confirm the 'First Edition' statement together with the number line; under Random House practice the first-printing line ends in 2, and later printings remove lower numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Cloth-backed boards; copyright page states 'First Edition' with the Random House number line whose lowest digit is 2 (Random House trade convention), not 1; first-state dust jacket priced. Published New York, 2010.
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 Random House (New York) true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Confirm the 'First Edition' statement together with the number line; under Random House practice the first-printing line ends in 2, and later printings remove lower numbers.
I have a first edition of The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration — 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.