# Is "The Tree of Swords and Jewels" by C.J. Cherryh a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Tree of Swords and Jewels by C.J. Cherryh (DAW Books, 1983) is identified by: DAW mass-market paperback original, DAW Book No. US DAW paperback original (August 1983) is the true first; second of the two Ealdwood novels, following The Dreamstone.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- DAW mass-market paperback original, DAW Book No
- 540, with the copyright page stating First Printing, August 1983 and carrying a complete number line; cover art by Michael Whelan
- As a DAW paperback original the collector's tell is the intact First Printing statement together with the low DAW catalog number 540; later DAW printings update the number line and printing statement while retaining the same DAW number
- Publisher imprint reads DAW Books
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | C.J. Cherryh |
| Publisher | DAW Books |
| Year | 1983 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | DAW mass-market paperback original, DAW Book No |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
DAW mass-market paperback original, DAW Book No. 540, with the copyright page stating First Printing, August 1983 and carrying a complete number line; cover art by Michael Whelan. As a DAW paperback original the collector's tell is the intact First Printing statement together with the low DAW catalog number 540; later DAW printings update the number line and printing statement while retaining the same DAW number.

## Is this the true first?
US DAW paperback original (August 1983) is the true first; second of the two Ealdwood novels, following The Dreamstone.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None. No hardcover or book-club edition preceded the DAW paperback; the DAW No. 540 first printing is the true first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Tree of Swords and Jewels* by C.J. Cherryh a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-tree-of-swords-and-jewels
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.