The points of issue
Pantheon Books, New York, 1992. First edition, first printing in hardcover with dust jacket; confirm by the first-edition designation and a complete number line running to 1 on the copyright page. Signed copies from the period exist.
Is this the true first?
The US Pantheon 1992 hardcover is the true first. The UK Methuen edition is a separate, later publication.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Vintage and Pantheon trade-paperback reprints are not firsts. No common book-club hardcover is recorded.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Oleanna a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Pantheon Books, New York, 1992. First edition, first printing in hardcover with dust jacket; confirm by the first-edition designation and a complete number line running to 1 on the copyright page. Signed copies from the period exist.
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 Pantheon 1992 hardcover is the true first. The UK Methuen edition is a separate, later publication.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later Vintage and Pantheon trade-paperback reprints are not firsts. No common book-club hardcover is recorded.
I have a first edition of Oleanna — 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.