The points of issue
Iconic pulp central to SF's Golden Age. Key collectible issues by date/contents: first appearances such as Asimov's 'Nightfall' (Sept. 1941), the 'Foundation' stories (1942 onward), Heinlein's early work, and the issue containing the controversial 'Deadline' atomic-bomb story (Cleve Cartmill, March 1944). Single printing per issue; identified by cover date and verified contents.
Is this the true first?
Original issues are the first appearances; no edition states. Value is per-issue based on landmark first appearances and condition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club analog. Distinguish original Street & Smith issues from bound library volumes and any facsimiles; correct date, volume/number and intact original wraps define the collectible first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Astounding Science-Fiction (pulp magazine) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Iconic pulp central to SF's Golden Age. Key collectible issues by date/contents: first appearances such as Asimov's 'Nightfall' (Sept. 1941), the 'Foundation' stories (1942 onward), Heinlein's early work, and the issue containing the controversial 'Deadline' atomic-bomb story (Cleve Cartmill, March 1944). Single printing per issue; identified by cover date and verified contents.
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. Original issues are the first appearances; no edition states. Value is per-issue based on landmark first appearances and condition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club analog. Distinguish original Street & Smith issues from bound library volumes and any facsimiles; correct date, volume/number and intact original wraps define the collectible first.
I have a first edition of Astounding Science-Fiction (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.