The points of issue
The true first edition is the Science Fiction Book Club hardcover issued by Nelson Doubleday in March 1977; the first printing carries Doubleday gutter code H 06 on page 213. The DAW paperback (UE1314, DAW No. 252) followed in August 1977 and is the first trade edition.
Is this the true first?
The Nelson Doubleday SFBC hardcover (March 1977) precedes the DAW paperback (August 1977) and is the true first. The DAW paperback is not a paperback original.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Unusually, the true first is itself a book club edition: an SFBC hardcover with a gutter code and no printed jacket price. Later SFBC printings lack the H 06 code.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Hunter of Worlds a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The true first edition is the Science Fiction Book Club hardcover issued by Nelson Doubleday in March 1977; the first printing carries Doubleday gutter code H 06 on page 213. The DAW paperback (UE1314, DAW No. 252) followed in August 1977 and is the first trade edition.
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 Nelson Doubleday SFBC hardcover (March 1977) precedes the DAW paperback (August 1977) and is the true first. The DAW paperback is not a paperback original.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Unusually, the true first is itself a book club edition: an SFBC hardcover with a gutter code and no printed jacket price. Later SFBC printings lack the H 06 code.
I have a first edition of Hunter of Worlds — 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.