The points of issue
Pyramid Science Fiction paperback original, catalog number X-1611, stating first printing April 1967 on the copyright page. Cover art by Leo and Diane Dillon. Story collection whose title story won the 1968 Hugo for best short story.
Is this the true first?
US Pyramid paperback original is the true first; there was no prior hardcover.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Pyramid Science Fiction paperback original, catalog number X-1611, stating first printing April 1967 on the copyright page. Cover art by Leo and Diane Dillon. Story collection whose title story won the 1968 Hugo for best short story.
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 Pyramid paperback original is the true first; there was no prior hardcover.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition.
I have a first edition of I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream — 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.