The points of issue
DAW paperback original (UJ1371), published April 1978, with the DAW emblem and number on the cover; first printing shows no later-printing statement on the copyright page. Morgaine vol. 2.
Is this the true first?
The US DAW paperback original (April 1978) is the true first. The first hardcover appearance came only in the SFBC omnibus The Book of Morgaine (1979).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Nelson Doubleday SFBC omnibus The Book of Morgaine (1979) is a book club edition containing this novel; it is not the first edition of the individual title.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Well of Shiuan a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: DAW paperback original (UJ1371), published April 1978, with the DAW emblem and number on the cover; first printing shows no later-printing statement on the copyright page. Morgaine vol. 2.
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. The US DAW paperback original (April 1978) is the true first. The first hardcover appearance came only in the SFBC omnibus The Book of Morgaine (1979).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Nelson Doubleday SFBC omnibus The Book of Morgaine (1979) is a book club edition containing this novel; it is not the first edition of the individual title.
I have a first edition of Well of Shiuan — 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.