The points of issue
Copyright page states 'First Edition' with the Borzoi colophon and no later-printing notice; trade dust jacket is priced. Short-story collection.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf first edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club edition is identifiable by a blind stamp on the rear board and a jacket lacking the printed price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of I Sing the Body Electric! a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'First Edition' with the Borzoi colophon and no later-printing notice; trade dust jacket is priced. Short-story collection.
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 Knopf first edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club edition is identifiable by a blind stamp on the rear board and a jacket lacking the printed price.
I have a first edition of I Sing the Body Electric! — 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.