The points of issue
US Bantam Spectra mass-market paperback original, first printing June 1991; first printing identified by a complete number line ending in 1.
Is this the true first?
The US Bantam Spectra paperback original of June 1991 was the Philip K. Dick Award-eligible first edition, published directly into paperback. It won the 1992 Philip K. Dick Award. A UK edition followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The later UK edition is a separate state, and subsequent reissues are reprints, not the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of King of Morning, Queen of Day a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Bantam Spectra mass-market paperback original, first printing June 1991; first printing identified by a complete number line ending in 1.
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. The US Bantam Spectra paperback original of June 1991 was the Philip K. Dick Award-eligible first edition, published directly into paperback. It won the 1992 Philip K. Dick Award. A UK edition followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The later UK edition is a separate state, and subsequent reissues are reprints, not the true first.
I have a first edition of King of Morning, Queen of Day — 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.