The points of issue
First edition states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a Doubleday gutter/printing code on the final text page consistent with the first printing. Jacket priced on the flap.
Is this the true first?
US Doubleday 1977 is the true first; UK Gollancz 1977 follows later the same year.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Doubleday book-club edition has a blindstamp and no flap price and omits the 'First Edition' statement. Common.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Scanner Darkly a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a Doubleday gutter/printing code on the final text page consistent with the first printing. Jacket priced on the flap.
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 Doubleday 1977 is the true first; UK Gollancz 1977 follows later the same year.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Doubleday book-club edition has a blindstamp and no flap price and omits the 'First Edition' statement. Common.
I have a first edition of A Scanner Darkly — 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.