The points of issue
UK Voyager (HarperCollins) hardcover published March 2010 is the true first. Copyright page states first publication by Voyager 2010 and carries a number line that includes the 1. The US HarperCollins hardcover did not follow until May 2010.
Is this the true first?
UK Voyager hardcover (March 2010) is the true first; the US edition followed about two months later.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line; check the full number line rather than the jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Dragon Haven (Rain Wild Chronicles 2) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Voyager (HarperCollins) hardcover published March 2010 is the true first. Copyright page states first publication by Voyager 2010 and carries a number line that includes the 1. The US HarperCollins hardcover did not follow until May 2010.
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. UK Voyager hardcover (March 2010) is the true first; the US edition followed about two months later.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings drop the 1 from the number line; check the full number line rather than the jacket.
I have a first edition of Dragon Haven (Rain Wild Chronicles 2) — 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.