The points of issue
First edition, first printing: copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with no number line below it (Random House convention of the period). Original dust jacket priced the printed price, lavishly illustrated. Issued alongside the PBS television series.
Is this the true first?
US Random House 1980 is the true first, preceding the UK Macdonald Futura edition. Signed Sagan copies carry strong premiums. Television tie-in printings followed quickly.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack the 'FIRST EDITION' statement, are slightly smaller, have a blind board stamp, and carry an unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Cosmos a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing: copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with no number line below it (Random House convention of the period). Original dust jacket priced the printed price, lavishly illustrated. Issued alongside the PBS television series.
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 Random House 1980 is the true first, preceding the UK Macdonald Futura edition. Signed Sagan copies carry strong premiums. Television tie-in printings followed quickly.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions lack the 'FIRST EDITION' statement, are slightly smaller, have a blind board stamp, and carry an unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of Cosmos — 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.