Collectors Guide to the Enheritance Cycle[]
Who owns who[]
The first edition of Eragon was self-published by Chris’s Parents at Paolini International LLC in 2002. In 2003 Eragon was republished by Alfred A. Knopf, Knopf has been a subsidiary of Random House since the 1960s and in 2013 merged with the Penguin Group to form Penguin Random House.
Penguin Random House is the parent company of 100s of publishers.
Here is a list of Inheritance Cycle Publishers/Imprints
- Paolini International LLC
- Alfred A. Knopf
- Doubleday
- Laurel-Leaf
- Corgi
- Penguin Books
- Barnes & Noble
Note: the regions publishers sold in is not 100% accurate.
First Editions[]
There are many “first editions” in the Inheritance Cycle, because of the multiple publishers and imprints. Each individual book has its own first edition and each edition of each book has its own first edition.
Identifying a first edition is no simple matter. There are thousands of publishers and they use a large variety of methods, which are often changed, to define first editions.
The publisher may actually state the words ‘first edition’ or ‘first printing’ on the copyright page. Another common method of identification is the number line – that’s a line of numbers on the copyright page. Usually, if a one is present in the line then it’s a first edition. This style has been used since World War II.
The line sequence could ascend or descend or even have no discernable order depending on the publisher. All of these sequences below are first editions.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2
(All first editions)
Sometimes the number line is also accompanied by the words ‘first edition’, but be careful because some publishers leave on the words ‘first edition’ even when the book is in its third printing and that fact is reflected in the three in this number line.
First edition
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
(Third printing)
Eragon (2002)[]
Eragon Pre Knopf First Trade Editions[]
Eragon: Self Published Edition (August 2002)
- A softcover version mainly distributed to libraries, schools and local bookshops, very hard to find in good condition and published by Paolini International LLC. This edition had an extra 35 Pages of dialogue from the Knopf Edition.
Eragon: Knopf Advanced Gallery Edition
- Advance Reader's Copy (ARC) was issued to reviewers and buyers at some large bookstore chains prior to the release of the first Knopf edition in 2003. Knopf bought the rights to the novel and sequels and issued these proofs to help drive the market. Very few were produced.
Eragon Hardcovers[]
Knopf Edition (August 2003) (First Trade Edition)
- Alfred A. Knopf started publishing Eragon in August 2003 with a new cover drawn by John Jude Palencar. This iconic cover is still produced today in both hardcover and softcover. While not technically a first edition, August 2003 Knopf Editions can be expensive.
Knopf Library Edition (August 2003)
- A hardcover turtleback book for libraries
Doubleday Edition (2004)
- Different blurb from the Knopf version.
- Doubleday Logos.
Eragon Softcovers[]
Eragon: Trade Paperback First Versions[]
A softcover version of the 2003 John Jude Palencar Hardcover
Eragon: Knopf Trade Paperback First Verison (Date Unknown)
- The #1 New York Times Bestseller cover and eunique blurb.
- Knopf logos.
Eragon: Doubleday Trade Paperback First Version (Date Unknown)
Eragon: Corgi Trade Paperback First Version (Date Unknown)
- The Sunday Times Bestseller cover and eunique blurb.
- Corgi logos.
Eragon: Laurel Leaf Trade Paperback First Version (Date Unknown)
- The #1 New York Times Bestseller cover and eunique blurb
- Laurel-Leaf logos.
Eragon: Trade Paperback Second Versions[]
- This paperback edition featured a zoomed-in version of the 2003 John Jude Palencar artwork.
Eragon: Knopf Trade Paperback Second Version (April 2005)
- The #1 New York Times Bestseller cover and eunique blurb
- Knopf logos.
Eragon: CORGI Trade Paperback Second Version (Date Unknown)
- Book One In the Inheritance Cycle cover and eunique blurb.
- Corgi logos.
Eragon: Trade Paperback Third Versions[]
Eragon Knopf Trade Paperback Third Version
Eragon: Movie Editions[]
- This edition features a cover of “Eragon” film Artwork by the Twentieth Century Film Corporation on a paperback book. Includes 8 pages in full colour from the movie.
Eragon: Knopf Movie Version (Date Unknown)
- The #1 New York Times Bestseller cover and blurb.
- Knopf logos.
Eragon: CORGI Movie Versions (October 2006)
Version One
- The International Bestseller cover and blurb.
- Corgi logos
Version Two
- The Sunday Times Bestseller cover and blurb.
- Corgi logos.
Eragon: Laurel Leaf Edition (October 2006)
- The #1 New York Times Bestseller Cover and Blurb
- Laurel-Leaf Logos
Eragon Adult Cover Edition[]
Eragon: CORGI Adult Cover Edition (May 2007)
Eragon Special/Other Editions[]
Eragon: Promotional Chapter Sampler Book (August 2003)
- Published in 2003 as a promotional item, this was distributed at San Diego Comic-con and included a chapter from Eragon: Prologue Shade of Fear
Eragon: Knopf 10th Anniversary Edition (October 2013)
- To celebrate the book’s tenth anniversary, Random House and Christopher Paolini released a one-of-a-kind, limited Collector’s Edition of Eragon. This new edition is bound in blue faux-leather and features an entirely new gold-foil line art cover by artist Ciruelo Cabral.
- The collector’s edition also features six glossy, full-colour original illustrations by award-winning artists John Jude Palencar (original artist of the Inheritance Cycle book covers), Michael Hague, Donato Giancola, Ciruelo Cabral, and Raoule Vitale, as well as Christopher Paolini himself.
- In addition, the book features an essay written by Christopher Paolini reflecting on this tenth anniversary milestone and on the artists who have inspired his work on the Inheritance Cycle and beyond.
Eragon: Barnes and Noble's Exclusive Collector’s Edition (December 31, 2018)
- “Including a letter from the author, a full-colour map with Eragon’s journey and extra locations, deleted scenes from Murtagh’s point of view, pages from the author’s notebooks and more…”
Eragon and Eldest: Omnibus (July 8, 2008)
- “Enjoy every word of the first two books in the Inheritance cycle in one convenient volume. Featuring brand new cover art and never before seen original manuscript pages!”
Eragon: 20th Anniversary Edition (Not released)
Paolini announced on twitter
“Well, you didn't hear it from me, but next year is the 20th anniversary of the Random House edition of Eragon, and ya'll just might be getting an illustrated edition (different artist) of Eragon in English. But again, you didn't hear it from me.”
Eldest (August 23, 2005)[]
Eldest Pre-First Trade Editions[]
Eldest: Advanced Readers Edition (Pre-August 2005)
- A very small run of paperback books before initial release for reviewers. The first page reads “ATTENTION, READER: THESE ARE UNCORRECTED ADVANCE PROOFS BOUND FOR REVIEW PURPOSES”
Eldest Hardcovers[]
Eldest: Knopf Edition (August 2005)
- First public edition of Eldest, released in hardcover. John Jude Palencar returned to illustrate the cover, the cover features the dragon Thorn in the same iconic style as Knopf’s Eragon.
- Due to a printing defect, less than 1% of books printed on the initial release had 32 pages of Cornelia Funke’s book Inkspell in them. These copies are extremely rare.
Eldest: Doubleday Edition (Date Unknown)
- Different blurb.
- Doubleday logos.
Eldest Softcovers.[]
Eldest: Trade Paperback First Versions[]
Eldest: Knopf Trade Paperback First Version (Date Unknown)
- The #1 New York Times Bestseller cover and eunique blurb.
- Knopf logos.
Eldest: Doubleday Trade Paperback First Version (Date Unknown)
Eldest: Corgi Trade Paperback First Version (Date Unknown)
- The Sunday Times Bestseller cover and eunique blurb.
- Corgi logos.
Eldest: Laurel Leaf Trade Paperback First Version (Date Unknown)
- The #1 New York Times Bestseller cover and eunique blurb.
- Laurel Leaf logos.
Eldest: Trade Paperback Second Versions[]
- This paperback edition featured a zoomed-in version of the 2005 Eldest John Jude Palencar artwork.
Eldest: Knopf Trade Paperback Second Version (March 2007)
- The #1 New York Times Bestseller cover and eunique blurb.
- Knopf logos.
Eldest: CORGI Trade Paperback Second Version (Date Unknown)
- Book Two In the Inheritance Cycle cover and eunique blurb.
- Corgi logos.
Eldest: Trade Paperback Third Versions[]
Eldest: Knopf Trade Paperback Third Version
Eldest Adult Cover Edition[]
Eldest: CORGI Adult Cover Edition (May 2007)
Eldest Special/Other Editions[]
Eldest: Knopf Limited Edition (September 2006)
- “A "limited edition Eldest includes a fold-out poster with art by Paolini, additional illustrations, a sneak preview at book III and more. Map. Frontispiece. A pronunciation guide and a complete list of people and places.
- The Limited Edition has the same art by John Jude Palencar with an added gold outline, “LIMITED EDITION” on the spine and a gold sticker on the front of the dust jacket.
Eldest: Doubleday Deluxe Edition (September 2006)
- Identical to the Eldest: Limited Edition apart from the text on the spine that says “DELUXE EDITION” and a different gold sticker on the dust jacket.
- Printed in Great Britain by Doubleday for sale in the UK and Australia.
Eragon and Eldest: Omnibus (July 8, 2008)
- “Enjoy every word of the first two books in the Inheritance cycle in one convenient volume. Featuring brand new cover art and never before seen original manuscript pages!”
Brisingr (September 20, 2008)[]
Brisingr Hardcovers[]
Brisingr: Knopf Edition (September 2008)
Brisingr: Doubleday Edition (Date Unkown)
Brisingr Softcovers[]
Brisingr: Trade Paperback First Versions[]
- A softcover version of the 2008 Brisingr Knopf hardcover
Brisingr:Knopf Trade Paperback First Version (Date Unknown)
Brisingr: Doubleday Trade Paperback First Version (Date Unknown)
Brisingr:Corgi Trade Paperback First Versions
- Version one (UK, AUS and NZ)
- Version Two (Aus and NZ)
Brisingr: Trade Paperback Second Versions[]
- This paperback edition featured a zoomed-in version of the 2008 Eldest John Jude Palencar artwork.
Brisingr: Knopf Trade Paperback Second Version (Date Unknown)
Brisingr: CORGI Trade Paperback Second Version (Date Unknown)
Eldest: Trade Paperback Third Versions[]
Brisingr: Knopf Trade Paperback Third Version (Date Unknown)
Adult Cover Editions[]
Brisingr: Doubleday Adult Cover Edition (September 2009)
Brisingr: CORGI Second Adult Cover Edition
Brisingr: CORGI Second Adult Cover Edition (Febuary 2010) (purple)
Brisingr Special/Other Editions[]
Brisingr: Doubleday/Waterstones Limited Edition (September 2008)
- Doubleday/Waterstones Limited edition, in a gold foil stamped slipcase, numbered and signed by the author. Only 1500 were produced.
Brisingr: Knopf Deluxe Edition (October 2009)
- This deluxe edition includes deleted scenes, never-before-seen art by the author, and a guide to dwarf runes.
- The Deluxe Edition has the same art by John Jude Palencar with an added gold outline and “DELUXE EDITION” on the spine and a gold sticker on the front of the dust jacket.
Inheritance (November 8, 2011)[]
Inheritance Hardcovers[]
The final book in the Inheritance Cycle, John Jude Palencar returned to illustrate the cover.
Inheritance: Knopf Edition (November 2011)
Inheritance: Doubleday Edition (Date Unknown)
Inheritance Softcovers[]
Inheritance Softcover First Versions[]
- Softcover versions of the 2011 Inheritance hardcovers.
Inheritance: Knopf Trade Paperback Version(Date Unknown)
Inheritance: Doubleday Trade Paperback First Version (Date Unknown)
Inheritance: Corgi Trade Paperback First Version (Date Unknown) Inheritance: Laurel Leaf Trade Paperback First Version
Inheritance Softcover Second Versions[]
- These paperback editions featured a zoomed-in version of the 2011 John Jude Palencar artwork.
Inheritance: Knopf Trade Paperback Second Version (Date Unknown)
Inheritance: CORGI Trade Paperback Second Version (Date Unknown)
Inheritance: Trade Paperback Third Versions[]
Inheritance: Knopf Trade Paperback Third Version
Adult Cover Editions[]
Inheritance: Doubleday Adult Cover Edition
Inheritance: CORGI Adult Cover Edition (May 2013)
Inheritance: CORGI Second Adult Cover Edition (July 2014)
Inheritance Special/Other Editions[]
Inheritance: Doubleday/Waterstones Limited Edition
Inheritance: Knopf Deluxe Edition (October 2012)
- “This deluxe edition of the spellbinding conclusion to the worldwide bestselling Inheritance cycle includes: A glimpse at life in Alagaesia after the final scene of the series, never-before-seen art by the author, a new scene within the story, a note to readers from the author and an exclusive full-colour foldout poster by award-winning artist John Jude Palencar
- The Deluxe Edition has the same art by John Jude Palencar with gold completely covering the front and back of the dust cover, “DELUXE EDITION” on the spine and a gold sticker on the front dust jacket.
The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm (December 31, 2018)[]
The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm : Tales from Alagaesia Volume 1 (December 2018)
The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm : Tales from Alagaesia Volume 1 (Jan 2020)
