The points of issue
Pyramid Books paperback original, catalog number R-1270, first printing 1965. Science-fiction story collection; cover art by Jack Gaughan.
Is this the true first?
US Pyramid paperback original (R-1270) is the true first printing.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition. Caution: a later Pyramid printing carries the catalog number X-1991 and is also marked 'first edition' on the copyright page, but it is a subsequent printing, not the true first; the true first is R-1270. The collection was reissued by Pyramid several times, with a new introduction added for the 1975 uniform Ellison edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Paingod and Other Delusions a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Pyramid Books paperback original, catalog number R-1270, first printing 1965. Science-fiction story collection; cover art by Jack Gaughan.
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 Pyramid paperback original (R-1270) is the true first printing.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition. Caution: a later Pyramid printing carries the catalog number X-1991 and is also marked 'first edition' on the copyright page, but it is a subsequent printing, not the true first; the true first is R-1270. The collection was reissued by Pyramid several times, with a new introduction added for the 1975 uniform Ellison edition.
I have a first edition of Paingod and Other Delusions — 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.