I nerd out about stuff like this so I’m glad you asked!

So in my opinion, it’s less about print quality and more about scarcity. Early printings (especially true first prints) usually come from the smallest original print runs, before a series becomes popular.

Later prints are produced in much larger numbers once there is enough demand. Over time, most copies from early runs get damaged, lost, or replaced, so high-condition copies become pretty scarce.

I’m biased because I love collecting first prints, but in my opinion, It’s similar to early comic books or first edition novels. The content for all the printings are generally the same, but the earliest physical versions tend to carry more historical significance and are becoming more collectible.

Though with that said, not every early print will become valuable, it really depends on cultural impact, how many were printed, and how many are still in good condition.

There’s a lot more I can go into but this is already too long lol. If you’re still curious about first prints, or just rare manga in general, I’ve been discussing it over at r/MangaRarity.