The points of issue
Ace single-volume paperback original, F-301, cover art by Ed Emshwiller (Emsh), cover price 40 cents.
Is this the true first?
US Ace paperback original is the true first book appearance. Grew out of the novelette The Novelty Act (Fantastic), retitled before book publication.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Simulacra a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Ace single-volume paperback original, F-301, cover art by Ed Emshwiller (Emsh), cover price 40 cents.
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 Ace paperback original is the true first book appearance. Grew out of the novelette The Novelty Act (Fantastic), retitled before book publication.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition.
I have a first edition of The Simulacra — 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.