The points of issue
True first is the London Heinemann 1955 hardcover, first impression, with no statement of a later printing. Volume three of A Dance to the Music of Time.
Is this the true first?
UK Heinemann 1955 is the true first; the first American edition was published the same year, 1955, by Farrar, Straus and Cudahy in New York (not 1956, and the firm name at that date was Farrar, Straus and Cudahy).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions and book-club issues followed; verify the copy carries no later-printing statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Acceptance World a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the London Heinemann 1955 hardcover, first impression, with no statement of a later printing. Volume three of A Dance to the Music of Time.
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. UK Heinemann 1955 is the true first; the first American edition was published the same year, 1955, by Farrar, Straus and Cudahy in New York (not 1956, and the firm name at that date was Farrar, Straus and Cudahy).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions and book-club issues followed; verify the copy carries no later-printing statement.
I have a first edition of The Acceptance 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.