The points of issue
Cloth-backed boards, gilt spine lettering; copyright page carries a full number line ending in 1 with no statement of later impression; dust jacket priced 16.99 net on the front flap. Booker Prize shortlisted.
Is this the true first?
The UK Faber first edition (2000) precedes the US Knopf edition (2000) and is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions add an impression statement and/or remove the 1 from the number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of When We Were Orphans a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Cloth-backed boards, gilt spine lettering; copyright page carries a full number line ending in 1 with no statement of later impression; dust jacket priced 16.99 net on the front flap. Booker Prize shortlisted.
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 UK Faber first edition (2000) precedes the US Knopf edition (2000) and is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions add an impression statement and/or remove the 1 from the number line.
I have a first edition of When We Were Orphans — 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.