The points of issue
US Tor hardcover released 15 January 1990, issued simultaneously with a trade paperback. First printing states 'First edition: February 1990' on the copyright page (despite the January release) with a full number line ending in 1, and lists both the hardcover and paperback ISBNs, a pairing dropped from later printings. Darrell K. Sweet jacket art. The first hardcover printing was small, aimed largely at libraries.
Is this the true first?
The US Tor hardcover is the true first; the UK Orbit edition follows. The cornerstone Wheel of Time collectible; fine jacketed first printings are scarce.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack the stated first edition and number line. Later Tor printings alter the number line and drop the dual ISBN listing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time 1) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Tor hardcover released 15 January 1990, issued simultaneously with a trade paperback. First printing states 'First edition: February 1990' on the copyright page (despite the January release) with a full number line ending in 1, and lists both the hardcover and paperback ISBNs, a pairing dropped from later printings. Darrell K. Sweet jacket art. The first hardcover printing was small, aimed largely at 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 US Tor hardcover is the true first; the UK Orbit edition follows. The cornerstone Wheel of Time collectible; fine jacketed first printings are scarce.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions lack the stated first edition and number line. Later Tor printings alter the number line and drop the dual ISBN listing.
I have a first edition of The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time 1) — 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.