The points of issue
Baen hardcover, published November 1992; copyright page states First printing, November 1992 with full number line. Priced dust jacket. Her first trade hardcover.
Is this the true first?
US Baen hardcover (November 1992) is the true first; her first standalone fantasy novel and her first trade hardcover.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club (SFBC/BCE) hardcover exists; it lacks the jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Spirit Ring a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Baen hardcover, published November 1992; copyright page states First printing, November 1992 with full number line. Priced dust jacket. Her first trade hardcover.
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 Baen hardcover (November 1992) is the true first; her first standalone fantasy novel and her first trade hardcover.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book-club (SFBC/BCE) hardcover exists; it lacks the jacket price.
I have a first edition of The Spirit Ring — 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.