The points of issue
Baen hardcover, subtitled A Comedy of Biology and Manners; copyright page states First printing, September 1999 with number line ending in 1. Priced dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Baen hardcover (September 1999) is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
SFBC edition exists; identifiable by gutter code and unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Civil Campaign a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Baen hardcover, subtitled A Comedy of Biology and Manners; copyright page states First printing, September 1999 with 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. US Baen hardcover (September 1999) is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
SFBC edition exists; identifiable by gutter code and unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of A Civil Campaign — 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.