The points of issue
Ballantine first, 1956, issued simultaneously in hardcover (cloth) and paperback (Ballantine number 135). Clarke's second story collection, twelve tales. Cover art by Richard Powers. Among hardcover copies a cloth-color variant is noted, with yellow cloth scarcer than the more common green.
Is this the true first?
US Ballantine first; the title appeared first in this Ballantine edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition relevant to identification here; later paperback printings are numbered and stated.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Reach for Tomorrow a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Ballantine first, 1956, issued simultaneously in hardcover (cloth) and paperback (Ballantine number 135). Clarke's second story collection, twelve tales. Cover art by Richard Powers. Among hardcover copies a cloth-color variant is noted, with yellow cloth scarcer than the more common green.
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 Ballantine first; the title appeared first in this Ballantine edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition relevant to identification here; later paperback printings are numbered and stated.
I have a first edition of Reach for Tomorrow — 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.