The points of issue
Copyright page states "First Edition" with no number line reaching 1 (Doubleday convention of the period). Trade dust jacket is priced on the front flap. Third Lije Baley / R. Daneel Olivaw robot-detective novel.
Is this the true first?
The US Doubleday trade edition is the standard first. A Phantasia Press signed limited edition was issued concurrently (a numbered run of 750 and a lettered run of 35), each signed by Asimov.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions show "Book Club Edition" on the lower front jacket flap, carry no printed price, and lack the stated "First Edition"; a blind gutter code may be present.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Robots of Dawn a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states "First Edition" with no number line reaching 1 (Doubleday convention of the period). Trade dust jacket is priced on the front flap. Third Lije Baley / R. Daneel Olivaw robot-detective 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. The US Doubleday trade edition is the standard first. A Phantasia Press signed limited edition was issued concurrently (a numbered run of 750 and a lettered run of 35), each signed by Asimov.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions show "Book Club Edition" on the lower front jacket flap, carry no printed price, and lack the stated "First Edition"; a blind gutter code may be present.
I have a first edition of The Robots of Dawn — 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.