The points of issue
First printing has the full number line ending in '1' on the copyright page and states 'First Edition.' Jacket priced the printed price. Jacket art by John Harris.
Is this the true first?
US Tor hardcover is the true first (the novel expands the 1977 Analog novelette). Signed firsts are common since Card signs frequently, so a plain signature adds modest value; condition and a true first-printing number line are what matter.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
SFBC edition: 'Book Club Edition' on the jacket flap, no the printed price, blind-stamped dot/code on rear board, smaller trim and cheaper paper. The BCE is extremely common and worth a small fraction of the Tor first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Ender's Game a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has the full number line ending in '1' on the copyright page and states 'First Edition.' Jacket priced the printed price. Jacket art by John Harris.
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 is the true first (the novel expands the 1977 Analog novelette). Signed firsts are common since Card signs frequently, so a plain signature adds modest value; condition and a true first-printing number line are what matter.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
SFBC edition: 'Book Club Edition' on the jacket flap, no the printed price, blind-stamped dot/code on rear board, smaller trim and cheaper paper. The BCE is extremely common and worth a small fraction of the Tor first.
I have a first edition of Ender's Game — 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.