The points of issue
Ace Double D-193, a dos-a-dos paperback original bound back-to-back with E.C. Tubb's 'The Space-Born'; issued late 1956, cover art by Ed Emshwiller.
Is this the true first?
US Ace paperback original is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition; paperback original only.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Man Who Japed a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Ace Double D-193, a dos-a-dos paperback original bound back-to-back with E.C. Tubb's 'The Space-Born'; issued late 1956, cover art by Ed Emshwiller.
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 paperback original is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition; paperback original only.
I have a first edition of The Man Who Japed — 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.