The points of issue
First edition stated; Pantheon, New York, with a priced dust jacket. Issued September 1971.
Decode the printer’s key: paste the number line into the decoder · Pantheon Books first-edition guide.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1971 Pantheon edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Imaginative Qualities of Actual Things a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition stated; Pantheon, New York, with a priced dust jacket. Issued September 1971.
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. True first is the 1971 Pantheon edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of Imaginative Qualities of Actual Things — 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.