The points of issue
First edition so stated / no later printing indicia. Dust jacket priced the printed price. Beige/tan cloth. First printing of 5,000 copies.
Is this the true first?
Gnome Press is the true first; precedes the Grayson (UK) edition. A scarce dust jacket is the key value driver.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Doubleday and later reprints are obviously later publishers; the Gnome jacket with the printed price is the tell.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of I, Robot a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition so stated / no later printing indicia. Dust jacket priced the printed price. Beige/tan cloth. First printing of 5,000 copies.
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. Gnome Press is the true first; precedes the Grayson (UK) edition. A scarce dust jacket is the key value driver.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Doubleday and later reprints are obviously later publishers; the Gnome jacket with the printed price is the tell.
I have a first edition of I, Robot — 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.