The points of issue
Mass-market paperback original from Baen; first printing dated October 1991 with the number line ending in 1 and the printed cover price. Cover art by Stephen Hickman.
Is this the true first?
The US Baen 1991 mass-market paperback original is the true first edition. A leather Easton Press collector hardcover also appeared in 1991 but is a separate collector issue, not the trade first. Later omnibus collections (Cordelia's Honor) are 'first thus'.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition for the original paperback; later Baen printings advance the number line so it no longer ends in 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Barrayar a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Mass-market paperback original from Baen; first printing dated October 1991 with the number line ending in 1 and the printed cover price. Cover art by Stephen Hickman.
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 Baen 1991 mass-market paperback original is the true first edition. A leather Easton Press collector hardcover also appeared in 1991 but is a separate collector issue, not the trade first. Later omnibus collections (Cordelia's Honor) are 'first thus'.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition for the original paperback; later Baen printings advance the number line so it no longer ends in 1.
I have a first edition of Barrayar — 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.