The points of issue
First edition stated with no later-printing line; first-issue jacket priced the printed price.
Is this the true first?
US Lippincott is the true first, preceding the UK Weidenfeld & Nicolson (1960). Hugo winner; scarce in fine jacket.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
SFBC edition: 'Book Club Edition' on flap, no price, blind-stamped dot on rear board, cheaper paper. The BCE is common; the trade first in jacket is many multiples higher.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Canticle for Leibowitz a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition stated with no later-printing line; first-issue jacket priced the printed price.
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. US Lippincott is the true first, preceding the UK Weidenfeld & Nicolson (1960). Hugo winner; scarce in fine jacket.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
SFBC edition: 'Book Club Edition' on flap, no price, blind-stamped dot on rear board, cheaper paper. The BCE is common; the trade first in jacket is many multiples higher.
I have a first edition of A Canticle for Leibowitz — 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.