The points of issue
First story collection; Signet mass-market paperback original, catalog number Q4384, published November 1971, cover art by Bob Pepper. No preceding hardcover.
Is this the true first?
US Signet paperback original (1971) is the true first; later hardcover printings are reprints.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None; as a paperback original there is no book-club first to confuse.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Driftglass a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First story collection; Signet mass-market paperback original, catalog number Q4384, published November 1971, cover art by Bob Pepper. No preceding hardcover.
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 Signet paperback original (1971) is the true first; later hardcover printings are reprints.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None; as a paperback original there is no book-club first to confuse.
I have a first edition of Driftglass — 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.