The points of issue
First edition stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page with no later-printing indication. First-issue dust jacket carries the printed price (2.95) on the front flap. Binding is publisher's dark blue leatherette/cloth with the spine lettered in red and red topstain (per Currey). Jacket art by Ruth Ray. First book in Asimov's Robot series; expanded from the Galaxy serialization.
Is this the true first?
US Doubleday is the true first. The British T.V. Boardman hardcover (1954) and later paperbacks follow it. Doubleday science-fiction firsts carry an explicit 'First Edition' statement and use no number line.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Doubleday/Science Fiction Book Club edition is identified by a blind-stamp gutter code on the lower corner of the rear board and by the absence of a printed price; its boards and paper are noticeably cheaper stock and the jacket flap is unpriced (often marked 'Book Club Edition').
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Caves of Steel a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page with no later-printing indication. First-issue dust jacket carries the printed price (2.95) on the front flap. Binding is publisher's dark blue leatherette/cloth with the spine lettered in red and red topstain (per Currey). Jacket art by Ruth Ray. First book in Asimov's Robot series; expanded from the Galaxy serialization.
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 Doubleday is the true first. The British T.V. Boardman hardcover (1954) and later paperbacks follow it. Doubleday science-fiction firsts carry an explicit 'First Edition' statement and use no number line.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Doubleday/Science Fiction Book Club edition is identified by a blind-stamp gutter code on the lower corner of the rear board and by the absence of a printed price; its boards and paper are noticeably cheaper stock and the jacket flap is unpriced (often marked 'Book Club Edition').
I have a first edition of The Caves of Steel — 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.