# Is "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (Gnome Press, 1950) is identified by: 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page with no later-printing indicia; the book was designed by David Kyle. Gnome Press, New York, 1950 is the true first, published December 2, 1950; it precedes the Grayson (UK) edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page with no later-printing indicia; the book was designed by David Kyle
- First printing of 5,000 copies bound in red cloth lettered in black, with a robot holding a gearwheel stamped on the front board and the gearwheel alone on the spine
- The first-issue dust jacket bears art by Edd Cartier and carries its printed price on the front flap (present on an unclipped jacket)
- Publisher imprint reads Gnome Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Isaac Asimov |
| Publisher | Gnome Press |
| Year | 1950 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page with no later-printing indicia; the book was designed by David Kyle |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page with no later-printing indicia; the book was designed by David Kyle. First printing of 5,000 copies bound in red cloth lettered in black, with a robot holding a gearwheel stamped on the front board and the gearwheel alone on the spine. The first-issue dust jacket bears art by Edd Cartier and carries its printed price on the front flap (present on an unclipped jacket).

## Is this the true first?
Gnome Press, New York, 1950 is the true first, published December 2, 1950; it precedes the Grayson (UK) edition. The scarce Cartier-illustrated jacket is the key identifying element.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Doubleday and later reprints are obviously later publishers; the red cloth stamped in black plus the 'FIRST EDITION' copyright statement and the Cartier jacket with its printed price identify the Gnome Press first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *I, Robot* by Isaac Asimov a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/i-robot
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.