The points of issue
Putnam first printing has no statement of printing on the copyright page; identification rests on the dust jacket, which carries the first-issue price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US Putnam first edition. The Worlds of If magazine serialization precedes the book.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition carries no price on the jacket flap and bears the club blind stamp on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Farnham's Freehold a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Putnam first printing has no statement of printing on the copyright page; identification rests on the dust jacket, which carries the first-issue price on the front flap.
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 Putnam first edition. The Worlds of If magazine serialization precedes the book.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition carries no price on the jacket flap and bears the club blind stamp on the rear board.
I have a first edition of Farnham's Freehold — 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.