The points of issue
Do not look for a number line ending in 1; Doubleday number lines of this period never reach 1, and the Doubleday trade first does not carry a stated "First Edition" on its copyright page. The first printing is identified by the absence of any later-printing indication and the original priced trade dust jacket (raised metallic lettering, Boris Vallejo cover art).
Is this the true first?
The US Doubleday trade edition is the standard first. A signed limited edition (a numbered run of 500 in full leather and slipcase, signed by Asimov) was also issued.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions show "Book Club Edition" on the front jacket flap and carry no printed price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Prelude to Foundation a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Do not look for a number line ending in 1; Doubleday number lines of this period never reach 1, and the Doubleday trade first does not carry a stated "First Edition" on its copyright page. The first printing is identified by the absence of any later-printing indication and the original priced trade dust jacket (raised metallic lettering, Boris Vallejo cover art).
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. The US Doubleday trade edition is the standard first. A signed limited edition (a numbered run of 500 in full leather and slipcase, signed by Asimov) was also issued.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions show "Book Club Edition" on the front jacket flap and carry no printed price.
I have a first edition of Prelude to Foundation — 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.