The points of issue
Ace mass-market paperback original, issued as an Ace Science Fiction Special, Ace number A-16, pictorial wraps, cover art by Leo and Diane Dillon. Paperback original with no preceding hardcover. The Ace number A-16 printed on the cover and spine identifies the issue.
Is this the true first?
True first is the Ace paperback original of 1968 (Ace SF Special A-16), the author's first book. A US hardcover edition followed later. Won the 1968 Nebula Award for Best Novel.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No original paperback book-club edition. Later printings are identified by a changed cover price and altered cover treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Rite of Passage a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Ace mass-market paperback original, issued as an Ace Science Fiction Special, Ace number A-16, pictorial wraps, cover art by Leo and Diane Dillon. Paperback original with no preceding hardcover. The Ace number A-16 printed on the cover and spine identifies the issue.
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. True first is the Ace paperback original of 1968 (Ace SF Special A-16), the author's first book. A US hardcover edition followed later. Won the 1968 Nebula Award for Best Novel.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No original paperback book-club edition. Later printings are identified by a changed cover price and altered cover treatment.
I have a first edition of Rite of Passage — 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.