The points of issue
Baen hardcover; copyright page states first printing with full number line to 1; priced jacket with David Seeley art.
Is this the true first?
US Baen trade hardcover (November 2012) is the true first. Baen also issued a signed limited edition under a separate ISBN at publication.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Trade and book club copies exist; the club edition lacks the number line and jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Captain Vorpatril's Alliance a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Baen hardcover; copyright page states first printing with full number line to 1; priced jacket with David Seeley art.
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 Baen trade hardcover (November 2012) is the true first. Baen also issued a signed limited edition under a separate ISBN at publication.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Trade and book club copies exist; the club edition lacks the number line and jacket price.
I have a first edition of Captain Vorpatril's Alliance — 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.