The points of issue
Ace Double G-574 paperback original, bound dos-a-dos with 'The Kar-Chee Reign' by Avram Davidson; 50-cent cover price; cover art by Jack Gaughan and Gerald McConnell. Le Guin's first novel, expanded from the story 'Dowry of the Angyar' (Amazing, Sept 1964).
Is this the true first?
US Ace Double paperback original is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition; this is a paperback original.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Rocannon's World a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Ace Double G-574 paperback original, bound dos-a-dos with 'The Kar-Chee Reign' by Avram Davidson; 50-cent cover price; cover art by Jack Gaughan and Gerald McConnell. Le Guin's first novel, expanded from the story 'Dowry of the Angyar' (Amazing, Sept 1964).
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 Ace Double paperback original is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition; this is a paperback original.
I have a first edition of Rocannon's World — 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.