The points of issue
US Tor hardcover, published August 31, 2010. Copyright page states 'First Edition: August 2010' with a number line ending in 1. Michael Whelan jacket art; interior maps and illustrations by Isaac Stewart and Ben McSweeney.
Is this the true first?
US Tor is the true first; the UK Gollancz edition followed in late 2010. The flagship Stormlight collectible.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Tor printings keep the 'First Edition: August 2010' line but the number line no longer reaches 1 — the number line, not the edition statement, identifies the printing. Leatherbound anniversary editions are separate.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive 1) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Tor hardcover, published August 31, 2010. Copyright page states 'First Edition: August 2010' with a number line ending in 1. Michael Whelan jacket art; interior maps and illustrations by Isaac Stewart and Ben McSweeney.
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 Tor is the true first; the UK Gollancz edition followed in late 2010. The flagship Stormlight collectible.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later Tor printings keep the 'First Edition: August 2010' line but the number line no longer reaches 1 — the number line, not the edition statement, identifies the printing. Leatherbound anniversary editions are separate.
I have a first edition of The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive 1) — 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.