The points of issue
Playboy Press first hardcover, stated first edition; 494 pages; red boards with black cloth backstrip and gilt spine titles; jacket priced. Co-written with Jerry Pournelle.
Is this the true first?
US Playboy Press (Chicago) 1977 first hardcover is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition has a blind stamp on the rear board and an unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Lucifer's Hammer a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Playboy Press first hardcover, stated first edition; 494 pages; red boards with black cloth backstrip and gilt spine titles; jacket priced. Co-written with Jerry Pournelle.
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 Playboy Press (Chicago) 1977 first hardcover is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition has a blind stamp on the rear board and an unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of Lucifer's Hammer — 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.