The points of issue
The first printing is identified by "First Edition" stated on the copyright page. Doubleday number lines of this era never descend to 1, so a stated "First Edition" (not a 1 in a number line) is the point of issue. Trade dust jacket is priced on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
The US Doubleday trade edition is the standard first. A signed limited edition (a numbered leather-bound run of roughly 300, signed by Asimov and issued without a dust jacket) also exists.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions show "Book Club Edition" on the front jacket flap, carry no printed price, and lack the stated "First Edition".
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Foundation and Earth a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The first printing is identified by "First Edition" stated on the copyright page. Doubleday number lines of this era never descend to 1, so a stated "First Edition" (not a 1 in a number line) is the point of issue. Trade dust jacket is priced 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. The US Doubleday trade edition is the standard first. A signed limited edition (a numbered leather-bound run of roughly 300, signed by Asimov and issued without a dust jacket) also exists.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions show "Book Club Edition" on the front jacket flap, carry no printed price, and lack the stated "First Edition".
I have a first edition of Foundation and 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.