The points of issue
Belmont single-volume paperback original, 92-603, cover price 50 cents. New York: Belmont, 1964.
Decode the printer’s key: paste the number line into the decoder.
Is this the true first?
US Belmont paperback original is the true first book appearance.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Penultimate Truth a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Belmont single-volume paperback original, 92-603, cover price 50 cents. New York: Belmont, 1964.
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 Belmont paperback original is the true first book appearance.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition.
I have a first edition of The Penultimate Truth — 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.