# Is "The Insect Societies" by E. O. Wilson a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Insect Societies by E. O. Wilson (Belknap Press / Harvard University Press, 1971) is identified by: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press first printing, 1971; cloth binding in pictorial priced dust jacket; no later-printing statement on the copyright page. US true first (Belknap Press / Harvard University Press, 1971).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Belknap Press of Harvard University Press first printing, 1971; cloth binding in pictorial priced dust jacket; no later-printing statement on the copyright page
- Publisher imprint reads Belknap Press / Harvard University Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | E. O. Wilson |
| Publisher | Belknap Press / Harvard University Press |
| Year | 1971 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Belknap Press of Harvard University Press first printing, 1971; cloth binding in… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Belknap Press of Harvard University Press first printing, 1971; cloth binding in pictorial priced dust jacket; no later-printing statement on the copyright page.

## Is this the true first?
US true first (Belknap Press / Harvard University Press, 1971).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Insect Societies* by E. O. Wilson a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-insect-societies
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.