The points of issue
UK Voyager hardcover, London, published 3 March 1997, is the first edition; first printings state first publication by Voyager 1997 on the copyright page with a printing line ending in 1. The US Bantam Spectra paperback followed in April 1997.
Is this the true first?
UK Voyager hardcover is the true first; the US Bantam Spectra paperback followed about a month later.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
US book club hardcover editions exist; they lack a jacket price and printing line and are not first editions.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Assassin's Quest (Farseer 3) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Voyager hardcover, London, published 3 March 1997, is the first edition; first printings state first publication by Voyager 1997 on the copyright page with a printing line ending in 1. The US Bantam Spectra paperback followed in April 1997.
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 hardcover is the true first; the US Bantam Spectra paperback followed about a month later.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
US book club hardcover editions exist; they lack a jacket price and printing line and are not first editions.
I have a first edition of Assassin's Quest (Farseer 3) — 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.