The points of issue
Essay collection on science fiction criticism. First edition in cloth, issued without dust jacket. Published in a small trade issue plus a signed limited issue of 110 numbered copies (and a handful of lettered copies) signed by Delany; title-page vignette by Richard Powers.
Is this the true first?
US Dragon Press edition (1977) is the true first. A Berkley Windhover paperback followed in 1978; a revised edition appeared from Wesleyan University Press in 2009.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Jewel-Hinged Jaw a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Essay collection on science fiction criticism. First edition in cloth, issued without dust jacket. Published in a small trade issue plus a signed limited issue of 110 numbered copies (and a handful of lettered copies) signed by Delany; title-page vignette by Richard Powers.
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 Dragon Press edition (1977) is the true first. A Berkley Windhover paperback followed in 1978; a revised edition appeared from Wesleyan University Press in 2009.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None.
I have a first edition of The Jewel-Hinged Jaw — 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.