The points of issue
Copyright page carries the 'First published in 1987 by Viking' statement with a full number line ending in '1'. ISBN 0-670-81178-5. The first-issue jacket shows the printed price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
The US Viking edition is the true first, preceding the UK (William Heinemann) edition. A later anniversary edition with a new preface is a 'first thus,' not the first edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club hardcover of note; the usual confusion is later Viking printings and the anniversary reissue. The complete number line ending in '1' plus the priced first-issue jacket identify the first printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Chaos: Making a New Science a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page carries the 'First published in 1987 by Viking' statement with a full number line ending in '1'. ISBN 0-670-81178-5. The first-issue jacket shows the printed price on the front flap.
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 US Viking edition is the true first, preceding the UK (William Heinemann) edition. A later anniversary edition with a new preface is a 'first thus,' not the first edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club hardcover of note; the usual confusion is later Viking printings and the anniversary reissue. The complete number line ending in '1' plus the priced first-issue jacket identify the first printing.
I have a first edition of Chaos: Making a New Science — 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.