# Is "Stations of the Tide" by Michael Swanwick a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Stations of the Tide by Michael Swanwick (William Morrow, 1991) is identified by: William Morrow hardcover; first printing identified by the complete number line descending to 1 on the copyright page together with the 'First Edition' statement; priced dust jacket. The US William Morrow 1991 hardcover is the true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- William Morrow hardcover; first printing identified by the complete number line descending to 1 on the copyright page together with the 'First Edition' statement; priced dust jacket
- Cloth-backed boards
- Publisher imprint reads William Morrow
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Michael Swanwick |
| Publisher | William Morrow |
| Year | 1991 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | William Morrow hardcover; first printing identified by the complete number line descending to 1 on the copyright page together with the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
William Morrow hardcover; first printing identified by the complete number line descending to 1 on the copyright page together with the 'First Edition' statement; priced dust jacket. Cloth-backed boards.

## Is this the true first?
The US William Morrow 1991 hardcover is the true first edition. Morrow's complete number line plus the 'First Edition' statement marks the first printing.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition: no price on the jacket flap, blind-stamp on the rear board, and it lacks the Morrow number line.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Stations of the Tide* by Michael Swanwick a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/stations-of-the-tide
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.