The points of issue
The first edition is the Ace paperback original (catalog code F-388), 1966, a Nebula co-winner. The first printing carries the statement 'first book publication' on the cover. Paperback original.
Is this the true first?
The true first is the Ace paperback original; there was no preceding hardcover. The later Gregg Press library hardcover is a first-hardcover issue, not the priority edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Identify by the Ace 'F-388' code and the cover statement 'first book publication.' Later Ace printings replace that line with 'Nebula Award Winner' and raise the cover price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Babel-17 a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The first edition is the Ace paperback original (catalog code F-388), 1966, a Nebula co-winner. The first printing carries the statement 'first book publication' on the cover. Paperback original.
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 true first is the Ace paperback original; there was no preceding hardcover. The later Gregg Press library hardcover is a first-hardcover issue, not the priority edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Identify by the Ace 'F-388' code and the cover statement 'first book publication.' Later Ace printings replace that line with 'Nebula Award Winner' and raise the cover price.
I have a first edition of Babel-17 — 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.