The points of issue
True first appearance in book form is the US Berkley Medallion paperback original (F655, 1962), in wraps; this is the expanded text. The Victor Gollancz hardcover (imprint dated 1962, but actually issued January 1963) is the first hardcover and first UK edition, in the publisher's distinctive boards under a yellow dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
The Berkley Medallion paperback original of 1962 precedes the Gollancz hardcover, whose 1962 imprint masks an actual January 1963 release. Collectors prize the Gollancz as the true first hardcover; identify which state a copy represents with care.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Numerous later paperback reprints exist, and Science Fiction Book Club hardcover editions occur (no jacket price, club blind-stamp or other club tell).
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Drowned World a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first appearance in book form is the US Berkley Medallion paperback original (F655, 1962), in wraps; this is the expanded text. The Victor Gollancz hardcover (imprint dated 1962, but actually issued January 1963) is the first hardcover and first UK edition, in the publisher's distinctive boards under a yellow dust jacket.
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 Berkley Medallion paperback original of 1962 precedes the Gollancz hardcover, whose 1962 imprint masks an actual January 1963 release. Collectors prize the Gollancz as the true first hardcover; identify which state a copy represents with care.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Numerous later paperback reprints exist, and Science Fiction Book Club hardcover editions occur (no jacket price, club blind-stamp or other club tell).
I have a first edition of The Drowned World — 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.