Orson Scott Card Signed Firsts: A Reference

Orson Scott Card (born 1951) is the only author in history to win both the Hugo and the Nebula Award for best novel in two consecutive years — for Ender’s Game (1985) and Speaker for the Dead (1986). The Ender saga remains his dominant achievement, though his prolific bibliography extends across science fiction, fantasy, and historical fiction.

Collecting Overview

Card has been an active signer throughout his career. He has participated in extensive book tours, convention appearances, and signing events. Signed copies of most titles are readily available. The scarcity premium attaches primarily to the 1985 Tor first edition of Ender’s Game, particularly in fine dust jacket condition.

Key Titles

• Ender’s Game (1985) — Tor first. Hugo and Nebula winner. The Card trophy. Signed firsts: $300–$800.
• Speaker for the Dead (1986) — Tor first. Hugo and Nebula winner. Signed firsts: $75–$200.
• Xenocide (1991) — Tor first. Signed firsts: $30–$75.
• Children of the Mind (1996) — Tor first. Signed firsts: $20–$50.
• Ender’s Shadow (1999) — Tor first. The parallel novel. Signed firsts: $20–$50.

Card’s public statements on various social and political topics have created controversy that affects some collectors’ willingness to acquire his work. This dynamic has had a mixed effect on the market — depressing casual demand while having limited impact on serious collectors focused on the literary significance of Ender’s Game.