The points of issue
Baen hardcover; copyright page states First Edition: October 1996 with full number line beginning at 1. Priced dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Baen hardcover (October 1996) is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
SFBC edition exists; identifiable by gutter code and unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Memory a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Baen hardcover; copyright page states First Edition: October 1996 with full number line beginning at 1. Priced dust jacket.
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 Baen hardcover (October 1996) is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
SFBC edition exists; identifiable by gutter code and unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of Memory — 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.