The points of issue
Ace Double F-173, bound with James White's 'Second Ending'; paperback original. Delany's debut; the 1962 text is abridged by roughly fifteen pages.
Is this the true first?
US Ace Double F-173 (1962) is the true first. The revised and enlarged (complete) text first appeared in the 1968 Ace solo edition (G-706); the 1968 Gollancz UK edition, following that text, is the first hardcover.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None; the 1968 Ace solo printing is the unabridged first-thus.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Jewels of Aptor a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Ace Double F-173, bound with James White's 'Second Ending'; paperback original. Delany's debut; the 1962 text is abridged by roughly fifteen pages.
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 Ace Double F-173 (1962) is the true first. The revised and enlarged (complete) text first appeared in the 1968 Ace solo edition (G-706); the 1968 Gollancz UK edition, following that text, is the first hardcover.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None; the 1968 Ace solo printing is the unabridged first-thus.
I have a first edition of The Jewels of Aptor — 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.