The points of issue
UK Voyager/HarperCollins hardcover, published 16 November 1998, precedes the US edition; first edition stated with number line ending in 1. US Bantam Spectra hardcover followed in early 1999 with stated first edition and full number line.
Is this the true first?
UK Voyager is the true first: the November 1998 UK hardcover precedes the US Bantam edition of early 1999.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
BCA (book club) Voyager hardbacks exist and are not the first edition; SFBC copies and later printings also differ.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Clash of Kings (ASOIAF 2) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Voyager/HarperCollins hardcover, published 16 November 1998, precedes the US edition; first edition stated with number line ending in 1. US Bantam Spectra hardcover followed in early 1999 with stated first edition and full number line.
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. UK Voyager is the true first: the November 1998 UK hardcover precedes the US Bantam edition of early 1999.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
BCA (book club) Voyager hardbacks exist and are not the first edition; SFBC copies and later printings also differ.
I have a first edition of A Clash of Kings (ASOIAF 2) — 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.