The points of issue
Paperback original, Ace F-393, 40 cents, titled 'This Immortal' (the book version, abridged from the F&SF serial '...And Call Me Conrad'); July 1966; 174 pp; cover art by Gray Morrow. First Ace printing has the F-393 code and no reprint statement.
Is this the true first?
The Ace 1966 paperback 'This Immortal' is the true first book edition; the magazine serial was titled '...And Call Me Conrad' (F&SF, October and November 1965). The first hardcover is Rapp & Whiting (UK, 1967), which restored the fuller text, a first thus.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No notable US book club edition; the UK Rapp & Whiting hardcover, though textually fuller, is later than the Ace paperback. Later Ace printings add printing statements.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of ...And Call Me Conrad (aka This Immortal) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Paperback original, Ace F-393, 40 cents, titled 'This Immortal' (the book version, abridged from the F&SF serial '...And Call Me Conrad'); July 1966; 174 pp; cover art by Gray Morrow. First Ace printing has the F-393 code and no reprint statement.
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 Ace 1966 paperback 'This Immortal' is the true first book edition; the magazine serial was titled '...And Call Me Conrad' (F&SF, October and November 1965). The first hardcover is Rapp & Whiting (UK, 1967), which restored the fuller text, a first thus.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No notable US book club edition; the UK Rapp & Whiting hardcover, though textually fuller, is later than the Ace paperback. Later Ace printings add printing statements.
I have a first edition of ...And Call Me Conrad (aka This Immortal) — 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.