The points of issue
Baen hardcover, published January 1996; copyright page states first printing with number line ending in 1. Priced dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Baen hardcover (January 1996) is the first book edition; the novel was serialized earlier in Analog, October through December 1995.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
SFBC edition exists; identifiable by gutter code and unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Cetaganda a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Baen hardcover, published January 1996; copyright page states first printing with number line ending in 1. Priced dust jacket.
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 hardcover (January 1996) is the first book edition; the novel was serialized earlier in Analog, October through December 1995.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
SFBC edition exists; identifiable by gutter code and unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of Cetaganda — 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.