The points of issue
True first is the paperback original, Fawcett Gold Medal #240 (1952), 25 cents. Paperback wraps; no hardcover precedes it. Gold Medal logo and number; an early MacDonald PBO bestseller. First printing has the original price and no later-printing statement.
Is this the true first?
Paperback is the true first. John D. MacDonald's early career was built on Gold Medal originals; nearly all his pre-1960 novels are paperback firsts.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. First printing carries the 25-cent price and no later-printing line; later Fawcett printings raise price/add printing data.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Damned a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the paperback original, Fawcett Gold Medal #240 (1952), 25 cents. Paperback wraps; no hardcover precedes it. Gold Medal logo and number; an early MacDonald PBO bestseller. First printing has the original price and no later-printing statement.
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. Paperback is the true first. John D. MacDonald's early career was built on Gold Medal originals; nearly all his pre-1960 novels are paperback firsts.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. First printing carries the 25-cent price and no later-printing line; later Fawcett printings raise price/add printing data.
I have a first edition of The Damned — 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.