The points of issue
First hardcover states "First Hardcover Printing, April 2007" with a number line present. Jacket carries the printed US price and Canadian price. The first printing appeared with Donato Giancola jacket art; both the stone 'green man/gargoyle' jacket and the figure-of-Kvothe ('Fabio') jacket are legitimate first-state variants, so neither one alone identifies the first.
Is this the true first?
The US DAW hardcover is the true first; the UK Gollancz is the UK first. DAW number lines historically run unconventionally, so rely on the stated 'First Hardcover Printing, April 2007' wording together with the presence of a 1.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No prominent book-club edition is the main trap; the traps are later-printing hardcovers (different printing statement) and the SFBC issue, which is smaller with a gutter code and an unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Name of the Wind a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First hardcover states "First Hardcover Printing, April 2007" with a number line present. Jacket carries the printed US price and Canadian price. The first printing appeared with Donato Giancola jacket art; both the stone 'green man/gargoyle' jacket and the figure-of-Kvothe ('Fabio') jacket are legitimate first-state variants, so neither one alone identifies the first.
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 DAW hardcover is the true first; the UK Gollancz is the UK first. DAW number lines historically run unconventionally, so rely on the stated 'First Hardcover Printing, April 2007' wording together with the presence of a 1.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No prominent book-club edition is the main trap; the traps are later-printing hardcovers (different printing statement) and the SFBC issue, which is smaller with a gutter code and an unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of The Name of the Wind — 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.