The points of issue
Tor first hardcover with a complete number line ending in 1; jacket carries the printed price; not remainder-marked; not a book-club edition. Navy cloth with red lettering and rules on the spine.
Is this the true first?
The US Tor hardcover is the true first of the Mistborn trilogy; the UK Gollancz is the UK first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Science Fiction Book Club edition is smaller and lighter, carries a gutter-code blind stamp and an unpriced jacket, and lacks the full number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Mistborn: The Final Empire a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Tor first hardcover with a complete number line ending in 1; jacket carries the printed price; not remainder-marked; not a book-club edition. Navy cloth with red lettering and rules on the spine.
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 Tor hardcover is the true first of the Mistborn trilogy; the UK Gollancz is the UK first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Science Fiction Book Club edition is smaller and lighter, carries a gutter-code blind stamp and an unpriced jacket, and lacks the full number line.
I have a first edition of Mistborn: The Final Empire — 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.