The points of issue
Ballantine paperback original, U2191, cover art by Ralph Brillhart. Issued 1964.
Is this the true first?
US Ballantine paperback original is the true first book appearance. Earlier serialized as All We Marsmen in Worlds of Tomorrow (Aug, Oct, Dec 1963), which precedes in periodical form.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition; a later Gregg Press hardcover appeared well after.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Martian Time-Slip a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Ballantine paperback original, U2191, cover art by Ralph Brillhart. Issued 1964.
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 Ballantine paperback original is the true first book appearance. Earlier serialized as All We Marsmen in Worlds of Tomorrow (Aug, Oct, Dec 1963), which precedes in periodical form.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition; a later Gregg Press hardcover appeared well after.
I have a first edition of Martian Time-Slip — 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.