The points of issue
The true first edition of The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects by Edward J. Ruppelt is identified by: First edition; Project Blue Book lead author.
Doubleday’s first-printing convention: Stated "First Edition" on the copyright page (no statement on later printings) Gutter codes (mid-1958 to mid-1987) as a dating cross-reference. Full points-of-issue methodology →
Commonly confused with
Book-club editions and later printings reprint the text but are not the first edition and are far less collectible. The Literary Guild, Mystery Guild, and Doubleday Book Club run through this house; their club editions carry a five-digit code block on the jacket and a rear-board blind stamp — not the same as the trade first. Use the points above to be certain — see book-club edition vs. first edition.
Where it sits
The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects is a Tier 3 (mid-to-upper three-figure) title in the New Mexico Book Value Index. Ruppelt led Project Blue Book; his 1956 first is a foundational, much-compounded UFO text.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects a first edition?
Look for these first-printing points: First edition; Project Blue Book lead author For Doubleday, Stated "First Edition" on the copyright page (no statement on later printings) Gutter codes (mid-1958 to mid-1987) as a dating cross-reference. Later printings and book-club editions lack them.
How do I tell a first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention: Stated "First Edition" on the copyright page (no statement on later printings) Gutter codes (mid-1958 to mid-1987) as a dating cross-reference, and confirm the named point of issue above. A number line, stated edition, or dated first printing is the key.
Is a book-club edition the same as a first edition?
No. Book-club editions (BCE) reprint the text but are not the true first edition and are far less collectible — The Literary Guild, Mystery Guild, and Doubleday Book Club run through this house; their club editions carry a five-digit code block on the jacket and a rear-board blind stamp — not the same as the trade first.. Check the points of issue above to be sure.
I have a first edition of The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects — what should I do with it?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque in any condition and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. If you'd rather sell, see the Edward J. Ruppelt collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.