# Is "Time Enough for Love" by Robert A. Heinlein a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Time Enough for Love by Robert A. Heinlein (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1973) is identified by: First edition has no later-printing statement on the copyright page. The U.S.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition has no later-printing statement on the copyright page
- The first-issue dust jacket carries the original printed price on the front flap and is unclipped; jacket illustration by Vincent Di Fate
- Black cloth boards with gilt spine lettering and goldenrod endpapers
- 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 | 1973 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition has no later-printing statement on the copyright page |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition has no later-printing statement on the copyright page. The first-issue dust jacket carries the original printed price on the front flap and is unclipped; jacket illustration by Vincent Di Fate. Black cloth boards with gilt spine lettering and goldenrod endpapers.

## Is this the true first?
The U.S. Putnam hardcover of 1973 is the true first edition. No separately issued signed/numbered Putnam limited from 1973 could be confirmed; the only slipcased limited of this title is a much later reprint and does not precede the Putnam first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions are smaller and lighter, lack the printed price on the jacket flap (often blind-stamped or with a dot on the rear board), and use cheaper paper and binding.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Time Enough for Love* by Robert A. Heinlein a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/time-enough-for-love
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.