The points of issue
First UK edition, London 1943; copyright page states First Published 1943 with no later impressions listed. Blue cloth, dust jacket. Space Trilogy vol. 2; a fragile wartime production under paper rationing.
Is this the true first?
UK Bodley Head true first; US Macmillan edition follows in 1944.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings differ.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Perelandra a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition, London 1943; copyright page states First Published 1943 with no later impressions listed. Blue cloth, dust jacket. Space Trilogy vol. 2; a fragile wartime production under paper rationing.
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. UK Bodley Head true first; US Macmillan edition follows in 1944.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings differ.
I have a first edition of Perelandra — 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.