The points of issue
Ace paperback original, catalog number F-377, with forty-cent cover price; 190 pages.
Decode the printer’s key: paste the number line into the decoder.
Is this the true first?
US Ace paperback original is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Crack in Space a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Ace paperback original, catalog number F-377, with forty-cent cover price; 190 pages.
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 paperback original is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition.
I have a first edition of The Crack in Space — 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.