The points of issue
First printing has the letter 'A' on the copyright page together with the Scribner Press seal; dust jacket priced.
Is this the true first?
US Scribner's first, part of the Scribner Heinlein juvenile series.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings lack the 'A'; book club issues lack the Scribner 'A'.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Time for the Stars a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has the letter 'A' on the copyright page together with the Scribner Press seal; dust jacket priced.
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 Scribner's first, part of the Scribner Heinlein juvenile series.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings lack the 'A'; book club issues lack the Scribner 'A'.
I have a first edition of Time for the Stars — 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.