The points of issue
First edition, first printing, Duell, Sloan and Pearce, New York, 1948. Copyright page states First Edition. Hardcover in dust jacket; 254 pp.
Is this the true first?
US edition is the true first. A UK edition followed from Falcon Press in 1949.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the First Edition statement; confirm no added printing line on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of This Very Earth a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing, Duell, Sloan and Pearce, New York, 1948. Copyright page states First Edition. Hardcover in dust jacket; 254 pp.
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 edition is the true first. A UK edition followed from Falcon Press in 1949.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings drop the First Edition statement; confirm no added printing line on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of This Very Earth — 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.