The points of issue
First US HarperCollins hardcover, 2007; states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a full number line ending in 1; priced dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
The US HarperCollins (2007) edition is the true first; the UK Fourth Estate (2007) edition is a separate first issued in its own market.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book club edition carries the usual rear-board blind stamp and lacks the stated 'First Edition' line, full number line, and printed jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Yiddish Policemen's Union a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First US HarperCollins hardcover, 2007; states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a full number line ending in 1; priced dust jacket.
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 HarperCollins (2007) edition is the true first; the UK Fourth Estate (2007) edition is a separate first issued in its own market.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book club edition carries the usual rear-board blind stamp and lacks the stated 'First Edition' line, full number line, and printed jacket price.
I have a first edition of The Yiddish Policemen's Union — 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.