The points of issue
'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; printed price present on the dust jacket flap. Publisher's black cloth with red title stamping to the spine; 191 pages. Time-travel novel published August 1955.
Is this the true first?
US Doubleday is the true first, preceding the later British and paperback editions. No magazine serialization preceded the book.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Science Fiction Book Club edition is identified by the rear-board blind-stamp gutter code and the absence of a printed price; the jacket flap reads 'Book Club Edition.' Board and paper stock are inferior to the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The End of Eternity a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; printed price present on the dust jacket flap. Publisher's black cloth with red title stamping to the spine; 191 pages. Time-travel novel published August 1955.
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 Doubleday is the true first, preceding the later British and paperback editions. No magazine serialization preceded the book.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Science Fiction Book Club edition is identified by the rear-board blind-stamp gutter code and the absence of a printed price; the jacket flap reads 'Book Club Edition.' Board and paper stock are inferior to the trade first.
I have a first edition of The End of Eternity — 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.