The points of issue
Baen mass-market paperback original, June 1986; copyright page carries Baen's stated first-printing line (First printing, June 1986) with no later printings listed; cover art by Alan Gutierrez. Bujold's debut novel and the opening of the Vorkosigan saga.
Is this the true first?
The US Baen paperback original (June 1986) is the true first; there is no earlier hardcover in any country.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The first hardcover appearance was the book club omnibus Test of Honor (Nelson Doubleday/SFBC, 1987), which pairs it with The Warrior's Apprentice; the Baen omnibus Cordelia's Honor (1996) and later NESFA Press hardcovers are also not the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Shards of Honor a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Baen mass-market paperback original, June 1986; copyright page carries Baen's stated first-printing line (First printing, June 1986) with no later printings listed; cover art by Alan Gutierrez. Bujold's debut novel and the opening of the Vorkosigan saga.
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 Baen paperback original (June 1986) is the true first; there is no earlier hardcover in any country.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The first hardcover appearance was the book club omnibus Test of Honor (Nelson Doubleday/SFBC, 1987), which pairs it with The Warrior's Apprentice; the Baen omnibus Cordelia's Honor (1996) and later NESFA Press hardcovers are also not the first.
I have a first edition of Shards of Honor — 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.