The points of issue
Issued simultaneously as a hardcover and a paperback by Ballantine. Hardcover first is so stated, jacket priced the printed price. Note a first-printing textual point: the original first-printing prologue was later revised by Clarke (the 'superpower' opening), so first printings carry the original prologue text.
Is this the true first?
US Ballantine is the true first, preceding the UK Sigwick & Jackson (1954). The hardcover is the preferred collectible first; the simultaneous paperback (Ballantine #33) is also a true first in wrappers.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings revise the prologue and drop first-printing indicia. Book-club hardcovers carry no price and a blind-stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Childhood's End a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Issued simultaneously as a hardcover and a paperback by Ballantine. Hardcover first is so stated, jacket priced the printed price. Note a first-printing textual point: the original first-printing prologue was later revised by Clarke (the 'superpower' opening), so first printings carry the original prologue text.
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 Ballantine is the true first, preceding the UK Sigwick & Jackson (1954). The hardcover is the preferred collectible first; the simultaneous paperback (Ballantine #33) is also a true first in wrappers.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings revise the prologue and drop first-printing indicia. Book-club hardcovers carry no price and a blind-stamp.
I have a first edition of Childhood's End — 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.