The points of issue
Random House hardcover with 'First Edition' stated in small capitals on the copyright page, accompanied by a number line; first printings carry the stated 'First Edition' line, and the price appears on the dust jacket. Under the Random House convention adopted by 1976, the stated 'First Edition' marks the first printing.
Is this the true first?
The US Random House 1976 hardcover is the true first; the UK Victor Gollancz edition of 1976 is a separate, near-simultaneous first. The Random House 'First Edition' statement, present from 1976 onward, identifies the first printing. Won the 1976 Nebula Award for Best Novel.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club edition has no price on the jacket, a blind-stamp on the rear board, and lacks the Random House stated 'First Edition' line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Man Plus a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Random House hardcover with 'First Edition' stated in small capitals on the copyright page, accompanied by a number line; first printings carry the stated 'First Edition' line, and the price appears on the dust jacket. Under the Random House convention adopted by 1976, the stated 'First Edition' marks the first printing.
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 US Random House 1976 hardcover is the true first; the UK Victor Gollancz edition of 1976 is a separate, near-simultaneous first. The Random House 'First Edition' statement, present from 1976 onward, identifies the first printing. Won the 1976 Nebula Award for Best Novel.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club edition has no price on the jacket, a blind-stamp on the rear board, and lacks the Random House stated 'First Edition' line.
I have a first edition of Man Plus — 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.