# Is "The Cat Who Walks Through Walls" by Robert A. Heinlein a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Cat Who Walks Through Walls by Robert A. Heinlein (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1985) is identified by: Copyright page carries a complete descending number line ending in 1. The U.S.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Copyright page carries a complete descending number line ending in 1
- First-issue jacket is unclipped with the original printed price
- The earliest printing is also noted to carry the full text of the third line on page 300, present without an errata slip
- Publisher imprint reads G.P. Putnam's Sons
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Robert A. Heinlein |
| Publisher | G.P. Putnam's Sons |
| Year | 1985 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Copyright page carries a complete descending number line ending in 1 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Copyright page carries a complete descending number line ending in 1. First-issue jacket is unclipped with the original printed price. The earliest printing is also noted to carry the full text of the third line on page 300, present without an errata slip.

## Is this the true first?
The U.S. Putnam hardcover of 1985 is the true first edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition lacks the printed jacket price and is identified by a blind stamp on the rear board; smaller and lighter than the trade first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Cat Who Walks Through Walls* by Robert A. Heinlein a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-cat-who-walks-through-walls
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.