The points of issue
Do not look for a number line ending in 1 or a stated "First Edition". The Doubleday first printing carries neither: the copyright-page number line begins at 2 and there is no "First Edition" statement, because first-edition rights had been assigned to Easton Press (whose signed edition was never completed owing to Asimov's final illness). The first printing is identified by that line beginning with 2 and the original priced trade dust jacket. Published posthumously.
Is this the true first?
The US Doubleday trade edition is the standard commercially issued first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions are identified by "Book Club Edition" on the front jacket flap and the absence of a printed price; treat this point cautiously and confirm against the jacket itself.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Forward the Foundation a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Do not look for a number line ending in 1 or a stated "First Edition". The Doubleday first printing carries neither: the copyright-page number line begins at 2 and there is no "First Edition" statement, because first-edition rights had been assigned to Easton Press (whose signed edition was never completed owing to Asimov's final illness). The first printing is identified by that line beginning with 2 and the original priced trade dust jacket. Published posthumously.
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 Doubleday trade edition is the standard commercially issued first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions are identified by "Book Club Edition" on the front jacket flap and the absence of a printed price; treat this point cautiously and confirm against the jacket itself.
I have a first edition of Forward the Foundation — 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.