The points of issue
True first is the paperback original, Fawcett Gold Medal k1438 (1964), 40 cents. Paperback wraps; no hardcover precedes it. Gold Medal logo and catalog number k1438; first printing has no additional printing line.
Is this the true first?
Paperback is the true first. Later reprints and modern editions (Black Lizard etc.) are first-thus only. Among the most sought Thompson Gold Medal originals.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. First Gold Medal printing has the original 40-cent price and no later-printing statement; later Fawcett printings raise the price and add printing data.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Pop. 1280 a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the paperback original, Fawcett Gold Medal k1438 (1964), 40 cents. Paperback wraps; no hardcover precedes it. Gold Medal logo and catalog number k1438; first printing has no additional printing line.
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. Paperback is the true first. Later reprints and modern editions (Black Lizard etc.) are first-thus only. Among the most sought Thompson Gold Medal originals.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. First Gold Medal printing has the original 40-cent price and no later-printing statement; later Fawcett printings raise the price and add printing data.
I have a first edition of Pop. 1280 — 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.