Where Can I Buy 'Interior Chinatown' Signed Edition?

I recently snagged a signed copy of 'Interior Chinatown' from Powell's Books in Portland. Their rare book section often gets signed editions directly from authors during book tours. The website updates their inventory weekly, so checking every few days pays off. Another solid option is The Strand in NYC - they had a batch last month that sold out fast, but their staff told me they're expecting more. Don't overlook indie bookstores either; places like Book Passage in California sometimes score signed copies through local author events. Online marketplaces can be risky, but AbeBooks had verified signed editions from reputable sellers last I checked. The key is persistence and setting up restock alerts.

Tracking down signed editions requires understanding how they enter the market. Most signed copies of 'Interior Chinatown' came from two sources: the initial book tour where Charles Yu signed stock at major retailers, and limited publisher promotions. Barnes & Noble's rare book department occasionally gets surplus tour copies - I'd call their flagship stores directly. For guaranteed authenticity, the signed book subscription service Signed Page had it last quarter; their verification process is rigorous.

Secondary markets like eBay can work if you know what to look for. Real signatures show ink variations and slight pressure marks - ask for multiple angled photos. The signed edition has a specific ISBN (978-0-525-53612-3) that helps avoid fakes. I've seen three genuine copies change hands on Biblio in the past month, priced between $75-$120. Rare book fairs are another avenue; the Boston International Book Fair had one in their catalog recently.

For future opportunities, follow Yu's publisher Pantheon on social media. They sometimes announce surprise signed edition drops. I missed their last Twitter restock by minutes, but their customer service confirmed they'll release more around the paperback launch. Libraries occasionally deaccession signed copies too - the Los Angeles Public Library sold one in their annual fundraiser.

As someone who collects contemporary signed literature, I've developed strategies for hunting gems like 'Interior Chinatown'. The signed edition exists in two variants: the standard first printing with a tipped-in signature page, and the rarer tour edition with handwritten inscriptions. I found mine through a Bookshop.org affiliate store in Austin that didn't advertise their signed stock online. Cold-calling bookstores near Yu's tour stops (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle) yielded two more leads.

Collector communities are invaluable resources. The Signed Books subreddit maintains a real-time spreadsheet of sightings, and a member there tipped me off about a charity auction that included a signed copy. For immediate availability, Strand Book Store's rare room keeps a waitlist - worth joining even if they're currently out. The best deals come from people who don't realize what they have; I once found a signed edition mispriced as regular used on ThriftBooks.