The points of issue
Knopf (Borzoi) first edition: copyright page states Published May 1, 1972 / First and Second Printings Before Publication with First Edition and no later-printing statement; the unclipped jacket carries the 6.95 front-flap price and the code 5/72 at the rear flap. Butterscotch cloth spine with silver lettering over light brown boards with a repeating title strip; brown endpapers with cutaway brain drawings; Paul Bacon jacket. 247 pages.
Is this the true first?
The US Knopf edition (1972) is the true first; the UK Jonathan Cape edition is also 1972 but follows. The 5/72 rear-flap code together with the Published May 1, 1972 / First and Second Printings Before Publication statement identifies the first printing.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The book club edition (it was a Book-of-the-Month Club selection) lacks the jacket price and carries the rear-board blind-stamp dot.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Terminal Man a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Knopf (Borzoi) first edition: copyright page states Published May 1, 1972 / First and Second Printings Before Publication with First Edition and no later-printing statement; the unclipped jacket carries the 6.95 front-flap price and the code 5/72 at the rear flap. Butterscotch cloth spine with silver lettering over light brown boards with a repeating title strip; brown endpapers with cutaway brain drawings; Paul Bacon jacket. 247 pages.
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 Knopf edition (1972) is the true first; the UK Jonathan Cape edition is also 1972 but follows. The 5/72 rear-flap code together with the Published May 1, 1972 / First and Second Printings Before Publication statement identifies the first printing.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The book club edition (it was a Book-of-the-Month Club selection) lacks the jacket price and carries the rear-board blind-stamp dot.
I have a first edition of The Terminal Man — 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.