The points of issue
First US edition, first printing: copyright page states 'First Printing' (Atheneum). Issued in the series with the dust jacket showing the DNA-helix design; price on flap. Atheneum used 'First Printing' / 'First Edition' statements rather than number lines in this period.
Is this the true first?
US Atheneum 1968 is the true first, preceding the UK Weidenfeld & Nicolson edition (1968). Watson's controversial memoir; signed copies are sought. Note the earlier suppressed Harvard University Press version was never published, so Atheneum is the first published edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack the 'First Printing' statement, have a blind-stamped board dot, are slightly smaller/lighter, and carry an unpriced jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Double Helix a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First US edition, first printing: copyright page states 'First Printing' (Atheneum). Issued in the series with the dust jacket showing the DNA-helix design; price on flap. Atheneum used 'First Printing' / 'First Edition' statements rather than number lines in this period.
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 Atheneum 1968 is the true first, preceding the UK Weidenfeld & Nicolson edition (1968). Watson's controversial memoir; signed copies are sought. Note the earlier suppressed Harvard University Press version was never published, so Atheneum is the first published edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions lack the 'First Printing' statement, have a blind-stamped board dot, are slightly smaller/lighter, and carry an unpriced jacket.
I have a first edition of The Double Helix — 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.