The points of issue
Copyright page states 'First Edition: March 1984' with full number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1; priced jacket with Michael Whelan cover; green quarter-cloth with gilt spine titles.
Is this the true first?
US Del Rey/Ballantine first hardcover is the true first edition. There is no Phantasia Press edition of this title.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition lacks the priced jacket and number line and is marked 'Book Club Edition'.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Integral Trees a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'First Edition: March 1984' with full number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1; priced jacket with Michael Whelan cover; green quarter-cloth with gilt spine titles.
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 Del Rey/Ballantine first hardcover is the true first edition. There is no Phantasia Press edition of this title.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition lacks the priced jacket and number line and is marked 'Book Club Edition'.
I have a first edition of The Integral Trees — 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.