The points of issue
The true first hardcover states "First edition" with the month (most copies January 1990; some note February) and carries a complete number line ending in 1 (0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1). Jacket carries the printed price. The hardcover first run was small, roughly 1,500 copies, largely distributed to libraries.
Is this the true first?
The Tor US hardcover is the collected true first of The Wheel of Time. A trade paperback was issued essentially simultaneously, but the hardcover is the collected first. UK Orbit followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The book club edition (SFBC) is physically smaller, carries a blind-stamped gutter code on the rear board and an unpriced jacket, and lacks the full number line. Note that the copyright page on the trade hardcover lists both hardcover and paperback ISBNs — confirm the full number line and the stated 'First edition.'
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Eye of the World a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The true first hardcover states "First edition" with the month (most copies January 1990; some note February) and carries a complete number line ending in 1 (0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1). Jacket carries the printed price. The hardcover first run was small, roughly 1,500 copies, largely distributed to libraries.
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 Tor US hardcover is the collected true first of The Wheel of Time. A trade paperback was issued essentially simultaneously, but the hardcover is the collected first. UK Orbit followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The book club edition (SFBC) is physically smaller, carries a blind-stamped gutter code on the rear board and an unpriced jacket, and lacks the full number line. Note that the copyright page on the trade hardcover lists both hardcover and paperback ISBNs — confirm the full number line and the stated 'First edition.'
I have a first edition of The Eye of the World — 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.