The points of issue
Iconic pulp; the first SF-dedicated magazine. Most collectible issue is the first, April 1926 (Frank R. Paul cover). Identification is by cover date, volume/number, and contents. Single printing per issue.
Is this the true first?
The original issue is the first appearance; no edition states. Value is driven by the landmark April 1926 first issue and other key first-appearance issues.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club analog. Beware facsimile reprints of the April 1926 issue; originals are identified by paper stock, ad content, and date.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Amazing Stories (pulp magazine) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Iconic pulp; the first SF-dedicated magazine. Most collectible issue is the first, April 1926 (Frank R. Paul cover). Identification is by cover date, volume/number, and contents. Single printing per issue.
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. The original issue is the first appearance; no edition states. Value is driven by the landmark April 1926 first issue and other key first-appearance issues.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club analog. Beware facsimile reprints of the April 1926 issue; originals are identified by paper stock, ad content, and date.
I have a first edition of Amazing Stories (pulp magazine) — 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.