The points of issue
First American edition: copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with the HarperCollins number line including the digit 1; first-issue jacket carries the printed price. ISBN 0-06-018307-1.
Is this the true first?
The true first edition is the British edition published in 1991 by Hutchinson Radius under a DIFFERENT title, 'The Rise and Fall of the Third Chimpanzee: How Our Animal Heritage Affects the Way We Live.' That UK edition precedes the 1992 US HarperCollins edition, which was retitled 'The Third Chimpanzee.' Collectors seeking the true first should target the 1991 Hutchinson Radius issue and note the title differs.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Distinguish the 1991 UK Hutchinson Radius first ('The Rise and Fall of the Third Chimpanzee') from the 1992 US HarperCollins first edition ('FIRST EDITION' stated, number line including 1). No notable book-club hardcover.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First American edition: copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with the HarperCollins number line including the digit 1; first-issue jacket carries the printed price. ISBN 0-06-018307-1.
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 true first edition is the British edition published in 1991 by Hutchinson Radius under a DIFFERENT title, 'The Rise and Fall of the Third Chimpanzee: How Our Animal Heritage Affects the Way We Live.' That UK edition precedes the 1992 US HarperCollins edition, which was retitled 'The Third Chimpa
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Distinguish the 1991 UK Hutchinson Radius first ('The Rise and Fall of the Third Chimpanzee') from the 1992 US HarperCollins first edition ('FIRST EDITION' stated, number line including 1). No notable book-club hardcover.
I have a first edition of The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal — 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.