Identifying a True First of Kindred
Identifying a true first edition of Kindred requires attention to several key points. The 1979 Doubleday first edition is the most valuable version, and distinguishing it from book club editions and later printings is essential for collectors.
True First Edition Markers
Publisher: Doubleday & Company, Inc., New York Publication year: 1979 Format: Hardcover, 264 pages
Number line: The first printing should show a complete number line. Doubleday’s practice during this period was to include the number “1” in the line for first printings and to remove it for subsequent printings.
Price on dust jacket flap: A true first edition dust jacket will have a printed price on the front flap. Book club editions typically lack a printed price or have a small blind-stamped dot or circle on the back cover.
Gutter code: Check the lower gutter of the last page of text for a code that may include the letter “S” followed by a number (e.g., “S 38”), which indicates Doubleday’s printing code.
Book Club Edition vs. Trade First
The Science Fiction Book Club produced an edition that is frequently confused with the trade first. Key differences:
- No price on the dust jacket flap (book club)
- Blind stamp or embossed mark on the back board (book club)
- Lighter weight paper and binding (book club)
- Smaller format in some cases (book club)
Condition Priorities
For Kindred first editions, dust jacket condition is paramount. The 1979 jacket is susceptible to edge wear, spine fading, and small tears. Fine/fine copies — clean jacket with no fading, tight binding, no foxing — command the highest premiums and represent a diminishing fraction of surviving copies.
Common Pitfalls
- Confusing the 1988 Beacon Press edition (first paperback, widely available) with the 1979 Doubleday first
- Accepting book club editions as trade firsts based on hardcover format alone
- Overlooking jacket condition issues that significantly reduce value