That's a good question.  I'm curious why it needs to be first edition if "collecting" isn't on your mind?  Wouldn't any early (as in, before the late 90's) edition be the same?  As far as I know, there were never any changes made to the text of the novelisations other than maye various forewords or introductions?

canofhumdingers said:

That's a good question.  I'm curious why it needs to be first edition if "collecting" isn't on your mind?  Wouldn't any early (as in, before the late 90's) edition be the same?  As far as I know, there were never any changes made to the text of the novelisations other than maye various forewords or introductions?

Which is exactly why I want as early a printing as I can get.  I'm curious to see exactly how it's prefaced.  If there are other versions which are identical inside, I'd be fine with those too. That said;  I do think that first cover is cool looking.

By collect it, I mean in the way most people would - kept in a hermetically sealed container and locked in a temperature controlled room.  ;-)   Kidding (sort of).  I just mean it will be a copy I read like I would any other paperback, no special treatment.

*edit*

However, this cover looks great also.  Looks like it may have been done by the same person who did the poster that came with the soundtrack originally. Had that one hung on the wall in my bedroom as a kid, right over my desk.  That poster and the soundtrack - that was Star Wars for me that year.

We have big library book sales in this area a few times each year, and I commonly see various editions, hardcover and softcover, for sale at about $1 apiece.

I found a few of the gold ones on ebay.  I'll go that route for now.  Thanks, fellas.

I have the 1976 release.  With the Mcquarrie cover signed by Alan Dean Foster.  Would have to search for it and dig it out.

There are no differences in the text between the editions, as far as i know.

The copy i have is worn.  It is not in unread condition.  And yet the binding is intact unlike my first edition return of the jedi the illustrated edition, or warped like my empire strikes back illustrated first edition.

I've got a hardcover 76 Sci Fi Book Club edition (which I found for $1.50 in a used bookstore :D ), and I don't think there are any forewords/prefaces in it. Although it is interesting to read the character list on the dust jacket and see things like "Chewbacca the Pirate, along with his sidekick Han Solo" :P .

I just bought a 1976 hardcover edition, it doesn't have forewords etc. as such but it does have several color pages with pictures/publicity shots and notes about the movie and characters and interview snippets.

Are these in the paperbacks?

Here is the front cover/dust jacket and the first page of inserts ('view image' to view full size).

Anchorhead said:

Not too concerned with condition because I want to read it, not collect & store it.  Also, is this the cover of the first printing?

Funny thing about that art.  Luke is a girl and  Threepio is also a female like droid like the Metropolis robot.