The points of issue
The Sandman comic ran 1989-1996; the single issues (#1-75) are the true firsts of the serialized content, with issue #1 (cover-dated January 1989) the key collectible. The first collected trade was actually The Doll's House (DC, 1990, collecting issues 8-16), which preceded Preludes & Nocturnes (DC, 1991, collecting issues 1-8). First printings of the trades are identified on the indicia page.
Is this the true first?
Original single issues precede all trade collections. Among the trades, The Doll's House (1990) was published first; Preludes & Nocturnes followed in 1991. The 1991 first printing is a DC Comics imprint, as Vertigo did not exist until 1993.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later trade printings, Vertigo-branded reprints, and Absolute or omnibus editions are not firsts; check the indicia printing statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes (and the Sandman graphic-novel collections) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The Sandman comic ran 1989-1996; the single issues (#1-75) are the true firsts of the serialized content, with issue #1 (cover-dated January 1989) the key collectible. The first collected trade was actually The Doll's House (DC, 1990, collecting issues 8-16), which preceded Preludes & Nocturnes (DC, 1991, collecting issues 1-8). First printings of the trades are identified on the indicia page.
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. Original single issues precede all trade collections. Among the trades, The Doll's House (1990) was published first; Preludes & Nocturnes followed in 1991. The 1991 first printing is a DC Comics imprint, as Vertigo did not exist until 1993.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later trade printings, Vertigo-branded reprints, and Absolute or omnibus editions are not firsts; check the indicia printing statement.
I have a first edition of The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes (and the Sandman graphic-novel collections) — 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.