The points of issue
US Ballantine Books first edition, issued both in cloth hardcover and in paperback wrappers. The cloth hardcover is regarded as the scarcer of the two formats.
Is this the true first?
The US Ballantine and the UK Frederick Muller editions both appeared in 1955 and are generally treated as simultaneous first editions; a clear precedence of one over the other is not established, so the original claim that Ballantine preceded Muller should be softened.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition for the true first. Later printings are noted on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Earthlight a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Ballantine Books first edition, issued both in cloth hardcover and in paperback wrappers. The cloth hardcover is regarded as the scarcer of the two formats.
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 Ballantine and the UK Frederick Muller editions both appeared in 1955 and are generally treated as simultaneous first editions; a clear precedence of one over the other is not established, so the original claim that Ballantine preceded Muller should be softened.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition for the true first. Later printings are noted on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of Earthlight — 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.