The points of issue
Paperback original, Ace Science Fiction Special (Terry Carr). First printing has no number line / Special-series indicia; priced the printed price.
Is this the true first?
The Ace mass-market PAPERBACK is the true first edition; it precedes the Walker hardcover (1969, US) and the UK editions. Because it was a paperback original, fine first-printing copies are scarce. Hugo and Nebula winner.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Ace printings add a number line and raised price. The Walker hardcover and any book-club hardcover are later than the paperback original.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Left Hand of Darkness a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Paperback original, Ace Science Fiction Special (Terry Carr). First printing has no number line / Special-series indicia; priced the printed price.
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 Ace mass-market PAPERBACK is the true first edition; it precedes the Walker hardcover (1969, US) and the UK editions. Because it was a paperback original, fine first-printing copies are scarce. Hugo and Nebula winner.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later Ace printings add a number line and raised price. The Walker hardcover and any book-club hardcover are later than the paperback original.
I have a first edition of The Left Hand of Darkness — 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.