The points of issue
Berkley/Putnam first separate hardcover edition, 1976, with priced dust jacket. The text first appeared earlier in the anthology 'Again, Dangerous Visions' (1972), which precedes this first stand-alone hardcover.
Is this the true first?
US Berkley/Putnam edition is the true first separate hardcover; the 1972 anthology appearance precedes it as the first publication of the text.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition is distinguished by a blind stamp on the rear board and a jacket lacking a printed price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Word for World Is Forest a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Berkley/Putnam first separate hardcover edition, 1976, with priced dust jacket. The text first appeared earlier in the anthology 'Again, Dangerous Visions' (1972), which precedes this first stand-alone hardcover.
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 Berkley/Putnam edition is the true first separate hardcover; the 1972 anthology appearance precedes it as the first publication of the text.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition is distinguished by a blind stamp on the rear board and a jacket lacking a printed price.
I have a first edition of The Word for World Is Forest — 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.