The points of issue
First printing carries the capital 'A' and the Scribner seal on the copyright page, with the dated printing code 'A-7.57' present. No later-printing statement; price on the front jacket flap.
Is this the true first?
The US Scribner edition is the true first of this Heinlein juvenile; the Scribner 'A' with seal is the decisive point. The UK Gollancz issue is a much later, separate setting.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No early book-club issue carries the Scribner 'A.' Any copy lacking the 'A' and seal on the copyright page is a later printing or club/reprint, not the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Citizen of the Galaxy a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing carries the capital 'A' and the Scribner seal on the copyright page, with the dated printing code 'A-7.57' present. No later-printing statement; price on the front jacket 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 Scribner edition is the true first of this Heinlein juvenile; the Scribner 'A' with seal is the decisive point. The UK Gollancz issue is a much later, separate setting.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No early book-club issue carries the Scribner 'A.' Any copy lacking the 'A' and seal on the copyright page is a later printing or club/reprint, not the first.
I have a first edition of Citizen of the Galaxy — 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.