The points of issue
US Tor hardcover, January 2004; 'First edition' stated with a full number line ending in 1. Expanded to roughly three times the length of the original novella.
Is this the true first?
US Tor true first of the novel; the original novella first appeared in the anthology Legends, edited by Robert Silverberg (Tor, 1998).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
SFBC and later printings differ; the shorter 1998 novella in the Legends anthology is a separate work.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of New Spring (WoT prequel) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Tor hardcover, January 2004; 'First edition' stated with a full number line ending in 1. Expanded to roughly three times the length of the original novella.
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 Tor true first of the novel; the original novella first appeared in the anthology Legends, edited by Robert Silverberg (Tor, 1998).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
SFBC and later printings differ; the shorter 1998 novella in the Legends anthology is a separate work.
I have a first edition of New Spring (WoT prequel) — 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.