# Is "The Feynman Lectures on Physics (3 vols.)" by Richard P. Feynman, Robert B. Leighton, Matthew Sands a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Feynman Lectures on Physics (3 vols.) by Richard P. Feynman, Robert B. Leighton, Matthew Sands (Addison-Wesley, 1963 (Vol I), 1964 (II), 1965 (III)) is identified by: First edition, first printing: Addison-Wesley, red cloth (commemorative/hardcover sets) — the desirable first issues carry the early printing statements. True first is the Addison-Wesley US edition; sets must be assembled with each volume in first printing (commonly mismatched).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition, first printing: Addison-Wesley, red cloth (commemorative/hardcover sets) — the desirable first issues carry the early printing statements
- Volume I is 1963, Volume II 1964, Volume III 1965; a true first set has each volume in its respective first printing
- Early printings note the Caltech lecture origin; check each volume's copyright page individually
- Publisher imprint reads Addison-Wesley
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Richard P. Feynman, Robert B. Leighton, Matthew Sands |
| Publisher | Addison-Wesley |
| Year | 1963 (Vol I), 1964 (II), 1965 (III) |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition, first printing: Addison-Wesley, red cloth (commemorative/hardcover sets) — the desirable first issues carry the early… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
First edition, first printing: Addison-Wesley, red cloth (commemorative/hardcover sets) — the desirable first issues carry the early printing statements. Volume I is 1963, Volume II 1964, Volume III 1965; a true first set has each volume in its respective first printing. Early printings note the Caltech lecture origin; check each volume's copyright page individually.

## Is this the true first?
True first is the Addison-Wesley US edition; sets must be assembled with each volume in first printing (commonly mismatched). The much later 'Definitive Edition' (2005) and 'New Millennium Edition' are corrected reprints, not firsts. Three-volume first-printing sets in the original slipcase/binding are scarce.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue of note; the main pitfall is mixed-printing sets and confusing later corrected editions (Definitive/Millennium) with the 1963–65 firsts. Verify printing on each volume separately.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Feynman Lectures on Physics (3 vols.)* by Richard P. Feynman, Robert B. Leighton, Matthew Sands a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-feynman-lectures-on-physics-3-vols
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.