The points of issue
US Ballantine Books first edition, Clarke's first short-story collection. Ballantine issued it simultaneously in a cloth hardcover and in paperback wrappers, so neither format has clear priority. The collection includes The Sentinel, the story that later seeded 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Is this the true first?
The US Ballantine edition (1953) is the true first. Hardcover and paperback were published together.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition. Later printings are noted on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Expedition to Earth a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Ballantine Books first edition, Clarke's first short-story collection. Ballantine issued it simultaneously in a cloth hardcover and in paperback wrappers, so neither format has clear priority. The collection includes The Sentinel, the story that later seeded 2001: A Space Odyssey.
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 edition (1953) is the true first. Hardcover and paperback were published together.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition. Later printings are noted on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of Expedition to Earth — 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.