The points of issue
Tor hardcover, published January 2016. First printing carries the 'First Edition' statement and the full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page, with a priced dust jacket. Publisher's boards.
Is this the true first?
The US Tor hardcover (2016) is the true first; the UK Titan edition is a separate, later issue.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Watch for any later book club printing: typically no printed jacket price, a possible blind-stamp on the rear board, and an absent or incomplete Tor number line. The trade first printing shows the 'First Edition' statement with the number line ending in 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of All the Birds in the Sky a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Tor hardcover, published January 2016. First printing carries the 'First Edition' statement and the full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page, with a priced dust jacket. Publisher's boards.
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. The US Tor hardcover (2016) is the true first; the UK Titan edition is a separate, later issue.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Watch for any later book club printing: typically no printed jacket price, a possible blind-stamp on the rear board, and an absent or incomplete Tor number line. The trade first printing shows the 'First Edition' statement with the number line ending in 1.
I have a first edition of All the Birds in the Sky — 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.