The points of issue
'First Edition' stated on the copyright page AND the Doubleday code 'E 33' present at the foot of the last text page (page 210); dust jacket with price on the front flap; pale grey-green cloth. Hugo winner (serialized as 'Here Gather the Stars').
Is this the true first?
The US Doubleday hardcover is the true first; UK and paperback editions follow. A true first must show both the stated 'First Edition' line and the 'E 33' code on page 210, which Doubleday used to mark this first printing.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Science Fiction Book Club edition carries the rear-board lower-corner blindstamp and an unpriced 'Book Club Edition' jacket; its thinner boards and the absence of the 'E 33' code distinguish it from the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Way Station a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page AND the Doubleday code 'E 33' present at the foot of the last text page (page 210); dust jacket with price on the front flap; pale grey-green cloth. Hugo winner (serialized as 'Here Gather the Stars').
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 Doubleday hardcover is the true first; UK and paperback editions follow. A true first must show both the stated 'First Edition' line and the 'E 33' code on page 210, which Doubleday used to mark this first printing.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Science Fiction Book Club edition carries the rear-board lower-corner blindstamp and an unpriced 'Book Club Edition' jacket; its thinner boards and the absence of the 'E 33' code distinguish it from the trade first.
I have a first edition of Way Station — 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.