The points of issue
True first is the Dragonsteel premium hardcover from the 2022 Year of Sanderson Kickstarter, shipped to backers beginning January 2023 with a January 10, 2023 release; it is a foil-stamped illustrated hardcover (illustrations by Howard Lyon), not a leatherbound. The Tor trade hardcover followed April 4, 2023, stating First Edition on the copyright page with a number line down to 1.
Is this the true first?
Dragonsteel premium hardcover precedes the Tor trade edition; note both. The Tor trade hardcover is the widely available first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Two distinct editions: the Dragonsteel premium hardcover (Kickstarter and Dragonsteel direct sales) and the Tor trade hardcover; do not confuse the premium edition with a leatherbound, which Dragonsteel reserves for other titles.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Tress of the Emerald Sea (Secret Project 1) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the Dragonsteel premium hardcover from the 2022 Year of Sanderson Kickstarter, shipped to backers beginning January 2023 with a January 10, 2023 release; it is a foil-stamped illustrated hardcover (illustrations by Howard Lyon), not a leatherbound. The Tor trade hardcover followed April 4, 2023, stating First Edition on the copyright page with a number line down to 1.
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. Dragonsteel premium hardcover precedes the Tor trade edition; note both. The Tor trade hardcover is the widely available first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Two distinct editions: the Dragonsteel premium hardcover (Kickstarter and Dragonsteel direct sales) and the Tor trade hardcover; do not confuse the premium edition with a leatherbound, which Dragonsteel reserves for other titles.
I have a first edition of Tress of the Emerald Sea (Secret Project 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.