The points of issue
Copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' together with a full number line descending to 1. Quarter red cloth backstrip over gray boards, spine titled in gilt and silver; 352 pp. Pictorial first-issue jacket designed by Jay J. Smith with the printed price intact at the head of the front flap.
Is this the true first?
The US Norton edition is the true first and precedes the UK issue. The 1996 'Revised and Expanded' edition, which adds responses to The Bell Curve, is a distinct first thus and should not be confused with the 1981 first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The principal confusion is the 1996 revised and expanded edition rather than a book club issue. A true 1981 first shows the stated 'FIRST EDITION' with the full number line to 1 and the printed first-issue jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Mismeasure of Man a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' together with a full number line descending to 1. Quarter red cloth backstrip over gray boards, spine titled in gilt and silver; 352 pp. Pictorial first-issue jacket designed by Jay J. Smith with the printed price intact at the head of the front flap.
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 US Norton edition is the true first and precedes the UK issue. The 1996 'Revised and Expanded' edition, which adds responses to The Bell Curve, is a distinct first thus and should not be confused with the 1981 first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The principal confusion is the 1996 revised and expanded edition rather than a book club issue. A true 1981 first shows the stated 'FIRST EDITION' with the full number line to 1 and the printed first-issue jacket.
I have a first edition of The Mismeasure of Man — 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.