# Is "The Snow Queen" by Joan D. Vinge a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge (The Dial Press / James Wade, New York, 1980) is identified by: First printing so stated on the copyright page. The US Dial Press hardcover is the true first, preceding the UK Sidgwick & Jackson edition and all paperbacks.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing so stated on the copyright page
- Quarter blue cloth over light blue paper boards with silver lettering on the spine; jacket illustration by Leo and Diane Dillon, with the original price present on the front flap
- Hugo winner, issued under the Dial Press / James Wade imprint
- Publisher imprint reads The Dial Press / James Wade, New York
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Joan D. Vinge |
| Publisher | The Dial Press / James Wade, New York |
| Year | 1980 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing so stated on the copyright page |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First printing so stated on the copyright page. Quarter blue cloth over light blue paper boards with silver lettering on the spine; jacket illustration by Leo and Diane Dillon, with the original price present on the front flap. Hugo winner, issued under the Dial Press / James Wade imprint.

## Is this the true first?
The US Dial Press hardcover is the true first, preceding the UK Sidgwick & Jackson edition and all paperbacks. Verify the 'First printing' statement on the copyright page; treat any claimed signed/limited state with caution.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Science Fiction Book Club edition shows a rear-board gutter blindstamp and an unpriced 'Book Club Edition' jacket; the Dial 'First printing' statement is absent. A later 2005 SFBC omnibus reprint also exists and is not the first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Snow Queen* by Joan D. Vinge a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-snow-queen
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.