The points of issue
The true first edition is the 1959 Dell paperback original (Dell First Edition B138), with 'First printing - October, 1959' stated on the copyright page and cover art by Richard Powers. The first hardcover is Houghton Mifflin 1961, identified by 'First Printing' on the copyright page, with the jacket carrying the printed price.
Is this the true first?
The genuine first edition is the Dell paperback original (1959), which precedes the first hardcover. Collectors of hardcover firsts use the Houghton Mifflin 1961 printing, but it is the first hardcover, not the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Houghton Mifflin book-club hardcover lacks the price and is blind-stamped; the Dell paperback original cannot be confused with a book-club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Sirens of Titan a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The true first edition is the 1959 Dell paperback original (Dell First Edition B138), with 'First printing - October, 1959' stated on the copyright page and cover art by Richard Powers. The first hardcover is Houghton Mifflin 1961, identified by 'First Printing' on the copyright page, with the jacket carrying the printed price.
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 genuine first edition is the Dell paperback original (1959), which precedes the first hardcover. Collectors of hardcover firsts use the Houghton Mifflin 1961 printing, but it is the first hardcover, not the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Houghton Mifflin book-club hardcover lacks the price and is blind-stamped; the Dell paperback original cannot be confused with a book-club edition.
I have a first edition of The Sirens of Titan — 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.