The points of issue
First edition published by Parnassus Press, 1968, illustrated by Ruth Robbins. Copyright page with Parnassus imprint, no later printings. Issued in cloth with the distinctive Robbins jacket art (Sparrowhawk). First state has the Parnassus imprint and the original price.
Is this the true first?
US Parnassus Press 1968 is the true world first (Parnassus was a small press; the print run was modest). The UK Gollancz edition (1971) is first British. The Parnassus first is far scarcer and more valuable than the Gollancz.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The far more common Atheneum and later printings, plus the UK Gollancz, are not the Parnassus first. Any copy with an Atheneum or Gollancz imprint is a later edition; the Parnassus Press 1968 imprint is decisive.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Wizard of Earthsea a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition published by Parnassus Press, 1968, illustrated by Ruth Robbins. Copyright page with Parnassus imprint, no later printings. Issued in cloth with the distinctive Robbins jacket art (Sparrowhawk). First state has the Parnassus imprint and the original price.
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 Parnassus Press 1968 is the true world first (Parnassus was a small press; the print run was modest). The UK Gollancz edition (1971) is first British. The Parnassus first is far scarcer and more valuable than the Gollancz.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The far more common Atheneum and later printings, plus the UK Gollancz, are not the Parnassus first. Any copy with an Atheneum or Gollancz imprint is a later edition; the Parnassus Press 1968 imprint is decisive.
I have a first edition of A Wizard of Earthsea — 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.