The points of issue
The Del Rey / Ballantine mass-market paperback original (April 1981, cover art by Michael Herring) is the first published edition. The Underwood-Miller hardcover, illustrated by Thomas Canty, is a signed, numbered limited edition of 200 copies signed by Zelazny and Canty on the limitation page and is the first hardcover.
Is this the true first?
The Del Rey paperback original preceded the Underwood-Miller hardcover; the Underwood-Miller signed/limited is the collectible first hardcover but not the first published form.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A Del Rey hardcover book club edition also exists and is not a true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Changing Land a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The Del Rey / Ballantine mass-market paperback original (April 1981, cover art by Michael Herring) is the first published edition. The Underwood-Miller hardcover, illustrated by Thomas Canty, is a signed, numbered limited edition of 200 copies signed by Zelazny and Canty on the limitation page and is the first hardcover.
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 Del Rey paperback original preceded the Underwood-Miller hardcover; the Underwood-Miller signed/limited is the collectible first hardcover but not the first published form.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A Del Rey hardcover book club edition also exists and is not a true first.
I have a first edition of The Changing Land — 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.