The points of issue
Pantheon Books hardcover, 2004 (ISBN 0375422765). First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete Random House/Pantheon number line, and the dust jacket carries the printed price. Pantheon is a Random House imprint, so the line follows the post-2002 Random House style.
Is this the true first?
The US Pantheon hardcover (2004) is the true first. It won the 2005 PEN/Faulkner Award, Ha Jin's second.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition lacks the stated first-edition line, is typically smaller, and has an unpriced dust jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of War Trash a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Pantheon Books hardcover, 2004 (ISBN 0375422765). First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete Random House/Pantheon number line, and the dust jacket carries the printed price. Pantheon is a Random House imprint, so the line follows the post-2002 Random House style.
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 Pantheon hardcover (2004) is the true first. It won the 2005 PEN/Faulkner Award, Ha Jin's second.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book-club edition lacks the stated first-edition line, is typically smaller, and has an unpriced dust jacket.
I have a first edition of War Trash — 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.