The points of issue
First printing has the Putnam code at the foot of the final text page; copyright page lacks any later-printing statement. First-issue jacket priced the printed price.
Is this the true first?
US Putnam is the true first, preceding the UK Gollancz (1967). Hugo winner; the priced first-issue jacket is the value driver.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
SFBC: 'Book Club Edition' on flap, no the printed price, blind-stamped dot, bulkier cheap paper.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has the Putnam code at the foot of the final text page; copyright page lacks any later-printing statement. First-issue jacket 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. US Putnam is the true first, preceding the UK Gollancz (1967). Hugo winner; the priced first-issue jacket is the value driver.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
SFBC: 'Book Club Edition' on flap, no the printed price, blind-stamped dot, bulkier cheap paper.
I have a first edition of The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress — 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.