The points of issue
Pyramid Books paperback original, catalog number R-1569, fifty-cent cover price, cover art by Jack Gaughan. The novel had earlier appeared as the two-part magazine serial 'Project Plowshare' in Worlds of Tomorrow (1965-1966), which precedes any book form.
Is this the true first?
The US Pyramid paperback original is the true first edition in book form; the magazine serialization predates it but is not a book.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition. As a paperback original there is no hardcover or club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Zap Gun a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Pyramid Books paperback original, catalog number R-1569, fifty-cent cover price, cover art by Jack Gaughan. The novel had earlier appeared as the two-part magazine serial 'Project Plowshare' in Worlds of Tomorrow (1965-1966), which precedes any book form.
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 Pyramid paperback original is the true first edition in book form; the magazine serialization predates it but is not a book.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition. As a paperback original there is no hardcover or club issue.
I have a first edition of The Zap Gun — 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.