The points of issue
Copyright page states 'First Edition' with the Random House number line beginning at '2' (the house convention of the period). ISBN 0-394-53512-X. The first-issue jacket shows the printed price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
The US Random House edition is the true first, preceding the UK (Headline) edition. Among Sagan's last books before his 1996 death.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies (BOMC/QPB) omit the printed price, may carry a rear-board blindstamp, and lack the 'First Edition' statement. The stated 'First Edition' plus the Random House line beginning at '2' plus the priced jacket identify the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'First Edition' with the Random House number line beginning at '2' (the house convention of the period). ISBN 0-394-53512-X. The first-issue jacket shows the printed price on the front flap.
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. The US Random House edition is the true first, preceding the UK (Headline) edition. Among Sagan's last books before his 1996 death.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies (BOMC/QPB) omit the printed price, may carry a rear-board blindstamp, and lack the 'First Edition' statement. The stated 'First Edition' plus the Random House line beginning at '2' plus the priced jacket identify the trade first.
I have a first edition of The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark — 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.