The points of issue
Bantam Spectra paperback original, April 1989, issued as A Bantam Spectra Special Edition; first printing number line.
Is this the true first?
The 1989 Bantam Spectra paperback original is the true first; the first hardcover appeared roughly a year later, so the paperback precedes all hardcover editions.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
N/A.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Phases of Gravity a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Bantam Spectra paperback original, April 1989, issued as A Bantam Spectra Special Edition; first printing number line.
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 1989 Bantam Spectra paperback original is the true first; the first hardcover appeared roughly a year later, so the paperback precedes all hardcover editions.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
N/A.
I have a first edition of Phases of Gravity — 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.