The points of issue
"First Edition" stated on the copyright page. Issued in yellow cloth lettered in red, with a first-issue dust jacket priced the printed price on the front flap. The second Elijah Baley / R. Daneel Olivaw novel.
Is this the true first?
US Doubleday is the true first edition (1957), preceded by serialization in Astounding Science-Fiction.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions omit "First Edition" on the copyright page and bear a blind-stamped device on the lower rear board, without the priced first-issue jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Naked Sun a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: "First Edition" stated on the copyright page. Issued in yellow cloth lettered in red, with a first-issue dust jacket priced the printed price on the front flap. The second Elijah Baley / R. Daneel Olivaw novel.
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 Doubleday is the true first edition (1957), preceded by serialization in Astounding Science-Fiction.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions omit "First Edition" on the copyright page and bear a blind-stamped device on the lower rear board, without the priced first-issue jacket.
I have a first edition of The Naked Sun — 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.