The points of issue
Scribner's first printing carries the letter 'A' on the copyright page together with the Scribner seal; jacket priced. Absence of the 'A', or added printing designations, indicates a later printing.
Is this the true first?
US Scribner's first edition is the true first; magazine serialization (in Blue Book) precedes the book but does not affect first-edition status of the hardcover.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings lack the 'A' and seal combination.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Between Planets a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Scribner's first printing carries the letter 'A' on the copyright page together with the Scribner seal; jacket priced. Absence of the 'A', or added printing designations, indicates a later printing.
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 Scribner's first edition is the true first; magazine serialization (in Blue Book) precedes the book but does not affect first-edition status of the hardcover.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings lack the 'A' and seal combination.
I have a first edition of Between Planets — 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.