The points of issue
First edition stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing indication. Issued in light-green cloth lettered in gilt with a first-issue dust jacket bearing the original unclipped price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US first edition (Random House, 1967). A UK edition followed from Hodder & Stoughton in 1967. A separate signed limited issue of 300 specially printed and bound copies was also produced.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book club edition exists; it is typically thinner, lacks the price on the jacket flap, and may carry a blind-stamp on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Instrument a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing indication. Issued in light-green cloth lettered in gilt with a first-issue dust jacket bearing the original unclipped price on the front flap.
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 first edition (Random House, 1967). A UK edition followed from Hodder & Stoughton in 1967. A separate signed limited issue of 300 specially printed and bound copies was also produced.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book club edition exists; it is typically thinner, lacks the price on the jacket flap, and may carry a blind-stamp on the rear board.
I have a first edition of The Instrument — 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.