# Is "The New Handbook of Heaven" by Diane di Prima a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The New Handbook of Heaven by Diane di Prima (Auerhahn Press, 1963) is identified by: Auerhahn Press (San Francisco), 1963. True first is the 1963 Auerhahn Press regular issue in printed wrappers (1000 copies).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Auerhahn Press (San Francisco), 1963
- The regular trade issue is perfect-bound in printed wrappers, 48 pages, one of 1000 copies
- First printing carries no later-printing statement
- Publisher imprint reads Auerhahn Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Diane di Prima |
| Publisher | Auerhahn Press |
| Year | 1963 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Auerhahn Press (San Francisco), 1963 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Auerhahn Press (San Francisco), 1963. The regular trade issue is perfect-bound in printed wrappers, 48 pages, one of 1000 copies. First printing carries no later-printing statement.

## Is this the true first?
True first is the 1963 Auerhahn Press regular issue in printed wrappers (1000 copies). A separate signed hardcover deluxe issue of 30 copies, in cloth-spined boards, was also produced and is the scarcer form.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The New Handbook of Heaven* by Diane di Prima a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-new-handbook-of-heaven
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.