The points of issue
Tor hardcover; copyright page reads 'First edition: March 1992' with full number line ending in 1. Homecoming Saga vol. 1. A simultaneous signed limited edition of 325 copies (300 numbered) was also issued.
Is this the true first?
US Tor hardcover (1992) is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
SFBC edition exists.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Memory of Earth a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Tor hardcover; copyright page reads 'First edition: March 1992' with full number line ending in 1. Homecoming Saga vol. 1. A simultaneous signed limited edition of 325 copies (300 numbered) was also issued.
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 Tor hardcover (1992) is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
SFBC edition exists.
I have a first edition of The Memory of Earth — 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.