The points of issue
US Tor hardcover, published January 8, 2013. Copyright page states 'First Edition: January 2013' with a full number line down to 1 (0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1). Blue boards with red spine lettering; facsimile Jordan signature on the title page. Series finale, completed by Brandon Sanderson.
Is this the true first?
US Tor is the true first; the UK Orbit edition follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
SFBC and later printings differ; later printings drop the 1 from the number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Memory of Light (WoT 14, with Brandon Sanderson) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Tor hardcover, published January 8, 2013. Copyright page states 'First Edition: January 2013' with a full number line down to 1 (0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1). Blue boards with red spine lettering; facsimile Jordan signature on the title page. Series finale, completed by Brandon Sanderson.
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 edition follows.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
SFBC and later printings differ; later printings drop the 1 from the number line.
I have a first edition of A Memory of Light (WoT 14, with Brandon Sanderson) — 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.