The points of issue
DAW paperback original, DAW Collectors No. 488, stated first printing (1982) on the copyright page; Barclay Shaw cover art.
Is this the true first?
US DAW paperback original (1982) is the true first. No Phantasia Press edition of this title exists; the only hardcover of the period is the SFBC book-club edition of July 1982.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
An SFBC book-club hardcover (July 1982) exists; it lacks a cover price and carries a gutter code.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Merchanter's Luck a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: DAW paperback original, DAW Collectors No. 488, stated first printing (1982) on the copyright page; Barclay Shaw cover art.
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 paperback original (1982) is the true first. No Phantasia Press edition of this title exists; the only hardcover of the period is the SFBC book-club edition of July 1982.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
An SFBC book-club hardcover (July 1982) exists; it lacks a cover price and carries a gutter code.
I have a first edition of Merchanter's Luck — 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.