The points of issue
Doubleday (Foundation imprint) first edition, 1990, with First Edition stated on the copyright page; issued simultaneously in hardcover and trade paperback, the hardcover in a small run. First printings show a printing error at pages 305 and 306 (page 305 unprinted, page 306 printed twice), corrected by an errata sheet laid in.
Is this the true first?
US Doubleday, March 1990, is the true first; the UK Headline edition followed in 1991.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club copies lack the stated First Edition and the printed jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Fall of Hyperion a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Doubleday (Foundation imprint) first edition, 1990, with First Edition stated on the copyright page; issued simultaneously in hardcover and trade paperback, the hardcover in a small run. First printings show a printing error at pages 305 and 306 (page 305 unprinted, page 306 printed twice), corrected by an errata sheet laid in.
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. US Doubleday, March 1990, is the true first; the UK Headline edition followed in 1991.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club copies lack the stated First Edition and the printed jacket price.
I have a first edition of The Fall of Hyperion — 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.