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.