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First-Edition Identification · Arthur C. Clarke

Is My The Lion of Comarre & Against the Fall of Night a First Edition?

Harcourt, Brace & World, 1968

The points of issue

US Harcourt first edition with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; first book appearance of 'The Lion of Comarre.'

Decode the printer’s key: paste the number line into the decoder · Harcourt, Brace & World first-edition guide.

Is this the true first?

US Harcourt first edition, 1968; the UK Gollancz edition did not appear until 1970, so the US edition is the true world first.

Telling it from reprints & book-club editions

Book club edition: typically a blind-stamped device on the rear board and a jacket without a printed price.

Frequently asked questions

Is my copy of The Lion of Comarre & Against the Fall of Night a first edition?

Look for these first-edition points: US Harcourt first edition with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; first book appearance of 'The Lion of Comarre.'

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 Harcourt first edition, 1968; the UK Gollancz edition did not appear until 1970, so the US edition is the true world first.

Is the book-club edition the same as the first?

Book club edition: typically a blind-stamped device on the rear board and a jacket without a printed price.

I have a first edition of The Lion of Comarre & Against the Fall of Night — 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.

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