The points of issue
Phantasia Press hardcover, August 1986, an edition of 1,850 copies, of which 350 are signed by Cherryh, numbered, and slipcased; limitation stated in the book. The DAW mass-market paperback (DAW Book No. 695) followed in January 1987.
Is this the true first?
The Phantasia Press hardcover (August 1986) precedes the DAW paperback (January 1987) and is the true first; earlier Chanur volumes followed the same Phantasia-before-DAW pattern. The record's claim of a 1986 DAW paperback original was wrong.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None known; the DAW paperback is a later trade printing, not a book club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Chanur's Homecoming a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Phantasia Press hardcover, August 1986, an edition of 1,850 copies, of which 350 are signed by Cherryh, numbered, and slipcased; limitation stated in the book. The DAW mass-market paperback (DAW Book No. 695) followed in January 1987.
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 Phantasia Press hardcover (August 1986) precedes the DAW paperback (January 1987) and is the true first; earlier Chanur volumes followed the same Phantasia-before-DAW pattern. The record's claim of a 1986 DAW paperback original was wrong.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None known; the DAW paperback is a later trade printing, not a book club edition.
I have a first edition of Chanur's Homecoming — 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.