The points of issue
First printing carries the Random House number line whose lowest surviving digit is the figure 2 (Random House removed numbers as printings advanced, so a true first retains the 2). The dust jacket is priced on the front flap and is not price-clipped. Won the 1973 National Book Award for fiction.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1972 Random House edition, New York. UK first followed from Andre Deutsch, 1974.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A Book-of-the-Month Club edition exists, identified by a blind-stamp dot to the rear board and an unpriced jacket flap; some club jackets read Book Club Edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Chimera a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing carries the Random House number line whose lowest surviving digit is the figure 2 (Random House removed numbers as printings advanced, so a true first retains the 2). The dust jacket is priced on the front flap and is not price-clipped. Won the 1973 National Book Award for fiction.
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. True first is the 1972 Random House edition, New York. UK first followed from Andre Deutsch, 1974.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A Book-of-the-Month Club edition exists, identified by a blind-stamp dot to the rear board and an unpriced jacket flap; some club jackets read Book Club Edition.
I have a first edition of Chimera — 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.