The points of issue
First UK Gollancz 1975 edition in the characteristic yellow jacket with price on the flap and no later-printing notice.
Is this the true first?
The Gollancz UK edition (1975) is the true first and precedes the US Harcourt Brace Jovanovich edition (1976).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The US Science Fiction Book Club edition shows the rear-board blind-stamp and an unpriced 'Book Club Edition' jacket; thinner boards distinguish it from the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Imperial Earth a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK Gollancz 1975 edition in the characteristic yellow jacket with price on the flap and no later-printing notice.
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. The Gollancz UK edition (1975) is the true first and precedes the US Harcourt Brace Jovanovich edition (1976).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The US Science Fiction Book Club edition shows the rear-board blind-stamp and an unpriced 'Book Club Edition' jacket; thinner boards distinguish it from the trade first.
I have a first edition of Imperial Earth — 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.