The points of issue
Paperback original. First printing has the number line including '1' and the Pan imprint; priced 95p on the cover. The hardcover (Arthur Barker, 1979) was published shortly after.
Is this the true first?
The Pan PAPERBACK is the true first edition — it precedes the Arthur Barker hardcover (1979). The Barker hardcover is the scarce, high-value first HARDCOVER (small print run, often the more collectible object) but is NOT the true first edition. US Harmony hardcover (1980) is later.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Pan printings show a number line no longer ending in 1 and a higher price. The Arthur Barker hardcover, though scarcer and pricier, is a second-format issue, not the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Paperback original. First printing has the number line including '1' and the Pan imprint; priced 95p on the cover. The hardcover (Arthur Barker, 1979) was published shortly after.
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 Pan PAPERBACK is the true first edition — it precedes the Arthur Barker hardcover (1979). The Barker hardcover is the scarce, high-value first HARDCOVER (small print run, often the more collectible object) but is NOT the true first edition. US Harmony hardcover (1980) is later.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later Pan printings show a number line no longer ending in 1 and a higher price. The Arthur Barker hardcover, though scarcer and pricier, is a second-format issue, not the true first.
I have a first edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy — 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.