The points of issue
First edition, a prose-poem rendering of the opening chapters of Genesis, illustrated by Stephen Dwoskin. Issued by The Smith in arrangement with Horizon Press as a limited edition of 500 copies (plus a trade issue).
Is this the true first?
US first (New York, 1966).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No later printings of consequence; identify the first by the 1966 The Smith / Horizon Press imprint and the limited-edition limitation statement of 500 copies.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of When Time Was Born a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, a prose-poem rendering of the opening chapters of Genesis, illustrated by Stephen Dwoskin. Issued by The Smith in arrangement with Horizon Press as a limited edition of 500 copies (plus a trade issue).
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. US first (New York, 1966).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No later printings of consequence; identify the first by the 1966 The Smith / Horizon Press imprint and the limited-edition limitation statement of 500 copies.
I have a first edition of When Time Was Born — 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.