The points of issue
Copyright page states 'First Edition' (Little, Brown convention of a stated 'First Edition' for the first printing). ISBN 0-316-49170-5; first-issue jacket carries the printed price.
Is this the true first?
The US Little, Brown edition is the true first, preceding the UK Allen Lane edition. The book won the 1982 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction and the National Book Award.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-of-the-Month Club copies lack the jacket price, carry a rear-board blindstamp, and do not state 'First Edition.' The stated 'First Edition' plus a priced jacket identify the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Soul of a New Machine a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'First Edition' (Little, Brown convention of a stated 'First Edition' for the first printing). ISBN 0-316-49170-5; first-issue jacket carries 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 US Little, Brown edition is the true first, preceding the UK Allen Lane edition. The book won the 1982 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction and the National Book Award.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-of-the-Month Club copies lack the jacket price, carry a rear-board blindstamp, and do not state 'First Edition.' The stated 'First Edition' plus a priced jacket identify the trade first.
I have a first edition of The Soul of a New Machine — 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.