# Is "The Cosmic Connection: An Extraterrestrial Perspective" by Carl Sagan a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Cosmic Connection: An Extraterrestrial Perspective by Carl Sagan (Anchor Press / Doubleday, 1973) is identified by: Anchor Press/Doubleday first printing, produced by Jerome Agel, jacket painting by Jon Lomberg. US true first, published by Anchor Press/Doubleday in 1973.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Anchor Press/Doubleday first printing, produced by Jerome Agel, jacket painting by Jon Lomberg
- Doubleday first printings of this era carry 'First Edition' stated beneath the copyright notice; the unclipped price appears on the front jacket flap
- Note Doubleday's number line, when present, counts upward
- Publisher imprint reads Anchor Press / Doubleday
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Carl Sagan |
| Publisher | Anchor Press / Doubleday |
| Year | 1973 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Anchor Press/Doubleday first printing, produced by Jerome Agel, jacket painting by Jon… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Anchor Press/Doubleday first printing, produced by Jerome Agel, jacket painting by Jon Lomberg. Doubleday first printings of this era carry 'First Edition' stated beneath the copyright notice; the unclipped price appears on the front jacket flap. Note Doubleday's number line, when present, counts upward.

## Is this the true first?
US true first, published by Anchor Press/Doubleday in 1973. No earlier UK issue precedes it.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club reprints omit the jacket price and the Doubleday 'First Edition' statement; watch for a club blind-stamp on the rear board.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Cosmic Connection: An Extraterrestrial Perspective* by Carl Sagan a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-cosmic-connection-an-extraterrestrial-perspective
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.