# Is "To Sail Beyond the Sunset" by Robert A. Heinlein a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of To Sail Beyond the Sunset by Robert A. Heinlein (Ace/Putnam, 1987) is identified by: Title page bears the Ace/Putnam imprint; copyright page carries a full descending number line ending in 1. The U.S.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Title page bears the Ace/Putnam imprint; copyright page carries a full descending number line ending in 1
- First-issue jacket is unclipped with the original printed price; jacket art by Boris Vallejo
- Publisher imprint reads Ace/Putnam
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Robert A. Heinlein |
| Publisher | Ace/Putnam |
| Year | 1987 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Title page bears the Ace/Putnam imprint; copyright page carries a full descending number line ending in 1 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Title page bears the Ace/Putnam imprint; copyright page carries a full descending number line ending in 1. First-issue jacket is unclipped with the original printed price; jacket art by Boris Vallejo.

## Is this the true first?
The U.S. Ace/Putnam (Putnam) hardcover of 1987 is the true first edition; it was Heinlein's last novel.

## 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 *To Sail Beyond the Sunset* by Robert A. Heinlein a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/to-sail-beyond-the-sunset
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.