The points of issue
First US edition, first printing: number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' on the copyright page. Blue dust jacket. Introduction by Carl Sagan, illustrations by Ron Miller. The first printing contained numerous textual/illustration errors and several reversed or mis-captioned diagrams; it was effectively superseded by a corrected second printing, making true first printings comparatively scarce.
Is this the true first?
Two simultaneous true firsts exist: the US Bantam (1988) and the UK Bantam Press (1988). The UK edition is generally considered the precedence first by some, but both are 1988; collectors specify which. The error-laden first printing is the prize state. Signed copies (Hawking's thumbprint/stamp signatures later) carry premiums.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack the full '1' number line, are printed on cheaper paper, and often carry a BCE gutter code or blind stamp; the jacket lacks the printed price. Later trade printings show shortened number lines not ending in 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First US edition, first printing: number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' on the copyright page. Blue dust jacket. Introduction by Carl Sagan, illustrations by Ron Miller. The first printing contained numerous textual/illustration errors and several reversed or mis-captioned diagrams; it was effectively superseded by a corrected second printing, making true first printings comparatively scarce.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. Two simultaneous true firsts exist: the US Bantam (1988) and the UK Bantam Press (1988). The UK edition is generally considered the precedence first by some, but both are 1988; collectors specify which. The error-laden first printing is the prize state. Signed copies (Hawking's thumbprint/stamp sign
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions lack the full '1' number line, are printed on cheaper paper, and often carry a BCE gutter code or blind stamp; the jacket lacks the printed price. Later trade printings show shortened number lines not ending in 1.
I have a first edition of A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.