The points of issue
DAW hardcover, DAW Book Collectors No. 941 stated on copyright page; first printing per number line; priced jacket with Michael Whelan art. First of the long Foreigner sequence.
Is this the true first?
US DAW hardcover (early 1994) is the true first; DAW hardcovers of this period carry number lines, and the paperback followed in 1995.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
SFBC edition exists.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Foreigner a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: DAW hardcover, DAW Book Collectors No. 941 stated on copyright page; first printing per number line; priced jacket with Michael Whelan art. First of the long Foreigner sequence.
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 DAW hardcover (early 1994) is the true first; DAW hardcovers of this period carry number lines, and the paperback followed in 1995.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
SFBC edition exists.
I have a first edition of Foreigner — 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.