First Edition Library was a publishing line that produced prestige facsimile reprints of famous first editions. They printed the book and dust jackets to match the look of the original first edition (save an additional information box on the copyright page and an “FEL” notice on the bottom rear dust jacket flap) on quality paper and bindings with a slipcase. Most of these were literary works: Steinbeck, etc. By they did some dozen science fiction works, including this one.
Asimov, Isaac. I, Robot. Gnome Press (i.e., First Edition Library), 1950 (1978 copyright date, but actually printed sometime in the 1980s). Facsimile reprint of the Gnome Press first edition, first edition hardback thus, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase, which includes the front and back just jacket cover art pasted on, with FEL cardstock information brochure laid in. An attractive production, and undoubtedly done on better paper stock than the Gnome Press original. Aiming for the same prestige reprint market as Easton Press, and indeed they were either part of or acquired by Easton. Obtained as part of the same private library purchase as the two signed Ellison books.
I only picked this up because true jacketed firsts of I, Robot have zoomed up considerably beyond what I’m willing to pay right now. I don’t collect First Edition Library, but it’s somewhat annoying that no good, complete list of the science fiction volumes seems to exist online. So I compiled the following:
I note that Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan of the Apes was done as part of their literary line.
Tags: Books, First Edition Library, Gnome Press, Isaac Asimov, Science Fiction