The points of issue
First printing shows the capital 'A' with the Scribner seal on the copyright page, with the dated printing code 'A-9.58' present; price on the front jacket flap; cloth boards. Last of the Heinlein Scribner juveniles.
Is this the true first?
The US Scribner edition is the true first; the capital 'A' with seal is the identifying point. Absence of the 'A' indicates a later state.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later school-library and club reprints lack the Scribner 'A' and seal; a missing 'A' or a different imprint means it is not the first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Have Space Suit—Will Travel a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing shows the capital 'A' with the Scribner seal on the copyright page, with the dated printing code 'A-9.58' present; price on the front jacket flap; cloth boards. Last of the Heinlein Scribner juveniles.
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 Scribner edition is the true first; the capital 'A' with seal is the identifying point. Absence of the 'A' indicates a later state.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later school-library and club reprints lack the Scribner 'A' and seal; a missing 'A' or a different imprint means it is not the first edition.
I have a first edition of Have Space Suit—Will Travel — 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.