# Is "Childhood's End" by Arthur C. Clarke a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke (Ballantine Books, 1953) is identified by: Issued simultaneously as a hardcover and a paperback by Ballantine. US Ballantine is the true first, preceding the UK Sigwick & Jackson (1954).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Issued simultaneously as a hardcover and a paperback by Ballantine
- Hardcover first is so stated, jacket with its 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
- Publisher imprint reads Ballantine Books
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Arthur C. Clarke |
| Publisher | Ballantine Books |
| Year | 1953 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Issued simultaneously as a hardcover and a paperback by Ballantine |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Issued simultaneously as a hardcover and a paperback by Ballantine. Hardcover first is so stated, jacket with its 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.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Childhood's End* by Arthur C. Clarke a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/childhoods-end
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.