The points of issue
Gnome Press first; first book form of the Lazarus Long material. First-state dust jacket priced 3.00 on the front flap and lists roughly 35 titles on the rear panel, with the full Gnome Press address. Black boards, spine lettered.
Is this the true first?
US Gnome Press first book appearance; an Astounding Science-Fiction serialization (1941) precedes it in periodical form. Heinlein revised and expanded the text for this book edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition under the Gnome imprint; reprints lack the Gnome Press imprint.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Methuselah's Children a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Gnome Press first; first book form of the Lazarus Long material. First-state dust jacket priced 3.00 on the front flap and lists roughly 35 titles on the rear panel, with the full Gnome Press address. Black boards, spine lettered.
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 Gnome Press first book appearance; an Astounding Science-Fiction serialization (1941) precedes it in periodical form. Heinlein revised and expanded the text for this book edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition under the Gnome imprint; reprints lack the Gnome Press imprint.
I have a first edition of Methuselah's Children — 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.