The points of issue
Knopf, New York, 1974. The true first states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with the borzoi colophon; bright yellow cloth lettered in gilt, in a first-issue dust jacket with the printed price present.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf 1974 is the true first. A UK Chatto & Windus edition followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions omit the stated 'FIRST EDITION' and the printed jacket price; they often carry a blind-stamped club dot on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Celestial Navigation a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Knopf, New York, 1974. The true first states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with the borzoi colophon; bright yellow cloth lettered in gilt, in a first-issue dust jacket with the printed price present.
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 Knopf 1974 is the true first. A UK Chatto & Windus edition followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions omit the stated 'FIRST EDITION' and the printed jacket price; they often carry a blind-stamped club dot on the rear board.
I have a first edition of Celestial Navigation — 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.