The points of issue
Lancer paperback original, catalog number 74-810, Emsh cover. The novel was first serialized in Infinity Science Fiction (June and August 1958); the 1962 Lancer is the first book-form edition. Silverberg substantially revised the text for the later Doubleday hardcover (1972).
Is this the true first?
US Lancer paperback original is the true first in book form. The Doubleday hardcover is a later, revised edition, not the first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition of the 1962 Lancer.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Recalled to Life a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Lancer paperback original, catalog number 74-810, Emsh cover. The novel was first serialized in Infinity Science Fiction (June and August 1958); the 1962 Lancer is the first book-form edition. Silverberg substantially revised the text for the later Doubleday hardcover (1972).
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 Lancer paperback original is the true first in book form. The Doubleday hardcover is a later, revised edition, not the first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition of the 1962 Lancer.
I have a first edition of Recalled to Life — 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.