The points of issue
Landmark hero pulp. Most collectible issue is the first, 'The Man of Bronze' (Doc Savage Magazine, March 1933). Identification by cover date, volume/number, and contents; single printing per issue. The 1960s-70s Bantam paperback reprints (with James Bama covers) are reprints, NOT the pulp firsts.
Is this the true first?
Original pulp issue is the first appearance; the Bantam paperbacks are much later reprints. The March 1933 first issue is the key collectible.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club analog. Crucially distinguish original Street & Smith pulp issues from the ubiquitous Bantam paperback reprints; the Bantam editions carry Bantam numbers and 1960s-70s dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Doc Savage Magazine (pulp) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Landmark hero pulp. Most collectible issue is the first, 'The Man of Bronze' (Doc Savage Magazine, March 1933). Identification by cover date, volume/number, and contents; single printing per issue. The 1960s-70s Bantam paperback reprints (with James Bama covers) are reprints, NOT the pulp firsts.
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. Original pulp issue is the first appearance; the Bantam paperbacks are much later reprints. The March 1933 first issue is the key collectible.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club analog. Crucially distinguish original Street & Smith pulp issues from the ubiquitous Bantam paperback reprints; the Bantam editions carry Bantam numbers and 1960s-70s dates.
I have a first edition of Doc Savage Magazine (pulp) — 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.