The points of issue
Tor hardcover, August 1996. Copyright page states 'First edition: August 1996' AND carries a full number line running down to 1; the first-edition statement alone is not enough, since later printings can retain it with a shortened number line. Priced jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Tor hardcover (August 1996) is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A Science Fiction Book Club edition exists; club copies lack the jacket price and full number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Children of the Mind a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Tor hardcover, August 1996. Copyright page states 'First edition: August 1996' AND carries a full number line running down to 1; the first-edition statement alone is not enough, since later printings can retain it with a shortened number line. Priced 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 Tor hardcover (August 1996) is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A Science Fiction Book Club edition exists; club copies lack the jacket price and full number line.
I have a first edition of Children of the Mind — 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.