The points of issue
Collection of stories. The true first carries FIRST PRINTING on the copyright page; later printings carry a printing history instead.
Is this the true first?
United States Random House edition (1964) is the true first; the Cresset Press London edition followed in 1965.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Random House printings are indicated by a revised printing statement on the copyright page rather than the FIRST PRINTING line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Horse Knows the Way a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Collection of stories. The true first carries FIRST PRINTING on the copyright page; later printings carry a printing history instead.
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. United States Random House edition (1964) is the true first; the Cresset Press London edition followed in 1965.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later Random House printings are indicated by a revised printing statement on the copyright page rather than the FIRST PRINTING line.
I have a first edition of The Horse Knows the Way — 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.