The points of issue
First printing carries the Scribner's 'A' together with the Scribner seal on the copyright page. Heinlein's first novel and the first of his Scribner juveniles.
Is this the true first?
US Charles Scribner's Sons first edition is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Identify by the 'A' and seal on the copyright page; later printings lack the 'A' (some later states show the year and seal but no 'A').
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Rocket Ship Galileo a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing carries the Scribner's 'A' together with the Scribner seal on the copyright page. Heinlein's first novel and the first of his Scribner juveniles.
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 Charles Scribner's Sons first edition is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Identify by the 'A' and seal on the copyright page; later printings lack the 'A' (some later states show the year and seal but no 'A').
I have a first edition of Rocket Ship Galileo — 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.