This brief teaching edition is a condensed, inexpensive version of Volume A of International Tables for Crystallography. It consists of: UL LIcomplete descriptions of the 17 plane groups, useful for the teaching of symmetry/LI LI24 selected space-group examples, of varying complexity and distributed over all seven crystal systems/LI LIthose basic text sections of Volume A that are necessary for the understanding and handling of space groups (Parts 1, 2, 3 and 5)./LI/UL The purpose of the teaching edition is threefold: OL LIIt should provide a handy (and inexpensive) tool for researchers and students wishing to familiarize themselves with the use of the space-group tables in Volume A. /LI LIIt is designed for use in classroom teaching, and with this aim in mind the price has been kept as low as possible. In order to achieve this, the material has been reprinted from Volume A without any changes, except for pagination. /LI LIIt may serve as a laboratory handbook because the 24 examples include most of the frequently occurring space groups, for both organic and inorganic crystals. /LI/OL The fifth edition of the brief teaching edition has been reviewed by M. Warren Mineral. Mag. (2003). 67, 826-827].