The points of issue
Ballantine Books paperback original, catalog number 72113, September 1968. Wraps; first printing has no statement of later printing on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
US Ballantine paperback original is the true first. The text was serialized earlier as 'Slowboat Cargo' in Worlds of If (February through April 1968) before the September 1968 book; the first hardcover was Macdonald, London, 1969.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Gift from Earth a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Ballantine Books paperback original, catalog number 72113, September 1968. Wraps; first printing has no statement of later printing on the copyright page.
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 Ballantine paperback original is the true first. The text was serialized earlier as 'Slowboat Cargo' in Worlds of If (February through April 1968) before the September 1968 book; the first hardcover was Macdonald, London, 1969.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition.
I have a first edition of A Gift from Earth — 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.