# Is "2001: A Space Odyssey" by Arthur C. Clarke a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke (New American Library, 1968) is identified by: First edition, first printing has 'FIRST PRINTING' stated on the copyright page (no later printings listed). US New American Library 1968 is the first hardcover; the UK Hutchinson 1968 hardcover follows.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition, first printing has 'FIRST PRINTING' stated on the copyright page (no later printings listed)
- Black spine over sky-blue boards, silver and blue spine lettering; pictorial film-still dust jacket, priced
- Developed alongside the Kubrick film
- Publisher imprint reads New American Library
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Arthur C. Clarke |
| Publisher | New American Library |
| Year | 1968 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition, first printing has 'FIRST PRINTING' stated on the copyright page (no later printings listed) |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition, first printing has 'FIRST PRINTING' stated on the copyright page (no later printings listed). Black spine over sky-blue boards, silver and blue spine lettering; pictorial film-still dust jacket, priced. Developed alongside the Kubrick film.

## Is this the true first?
US New American Library 1968 is the first hardcover; the UK Hutchinson 1968 hardcover follows. An NAL/Signet paperback also appeared in 1968.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Science Fiction Book Club edition has a blindstamp and no flap price; common. Film tie-in paperbacks are reprints.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *2001: A Space Odyssey* by Arthur C. Clarke a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/2001-a-space-odyssey
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.