The points of issue
Tor hardcover. Copyright page states 'First Edition: February 1996' with full number line 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1; the 1 present indicates first printing. Priced jacket.
Is this the true first?
US Tor hardcover (February 1996) is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
First printings have a priced jacket; an unpriced jacket indicates a book-club copy.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Tor hardcover. Copyright page states 'First Edition: February 1996' with full number line 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1; the 1 present indicates first printing. Priced 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 Tor hardcover (February 1996) is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
First printings have a priced jacket; an unpriced jacket indicates a book-club copy.
I have a first edition of Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus — 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.