The points of issue
US Tor hardcover, 1996. Copyright page states First Edition: June 1996 with a full number line that includes the 1, even though the book was released in May 1996.
Is this the true first?
US Tor is the true first; the UK Orbit hardcover appeared at essentially the same time and does not precede it.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
SFBC book club copies are smaller, lack the number line, and have no printed jacket price; later Tor printings drop numbers from the line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Crown of Swords (WoT 7) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Tor hardcover, 1996. Copyright page states First Edition: June 1996 with a full number line that includes the 1, even though the book was released in May 1996.
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 Tor is the true first; the UK Orbit hardcover appeared at essentially the same time and does not precede it.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
SFBC book club copies are smaller, lack the number line, and have no printed jacket price; later Tor printings drop numbers from the line.
I have a first edition of A Crown of Swords (WoT 7) — 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.