The points of issue
First edition, first printing from Timescape (Simon & Schuster) carries the Simon & Schuster gnomonic number line reading 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 on the copyright page, with a priced dust jacket. A separate Underwood-Miller signed, numbered limited edition of 333 copies was also issued.
Is this the true first?
US Timescape / Simon & Schuster trade hardcover is the true first; the Underwood-Miller signed/limited is a parallel collectible.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book club hardcover exists, identified by the absence of a jacket price and standard book-club markers; not a true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Eye of Cat a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing from Timescape (Simon & Schuster) carries the Simon & Schuster gnomonic number line reading 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 on the copyright page, with a priced dust jacket. A separate Underwood-Miller signed, numbered limited edition of 333 copies was also issued.
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 Timescape / Simon & Schuster trade hardcover is the true first; the Underwood-Miller signed/limited is a parallel collectible.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book club hardcover exists, identified by the absence of a jacket price and standard book-club markers; not a true first.
I have a first edition of Eye of Cat — 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.