The points of issue
First edition published 1979 by Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. By the later 1970s Scribner had moved away from the lone letter A first-printing code toward a number line, so the first printing is identified by a number line including the 1 on the copyright page rather than by an A code. Cloth binding with original-price dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
US true first edition (Charles Scribner's Sons, 1979). Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1980.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A number line that does not include the 1 indicates a later printing; book-club editions typically lack the publisher's printing code and a printed jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's Journal a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition published 1979 by Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. By the later 1970s Scribner had moved away from the lone letter A first-printing code toward a number line, so the first printing is identified by a number line including the 1 on the copyright page rather than by an A code. Cloth binding with original-price dust jacket.
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 true first edition (Charles Scribner's Sons, 1979). Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1980.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A number line that does not include the 1 indicates a later printing; book-club editions typically lack the publisher's printing code and a printed jacket price.
I have a first edition of A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's Journal — 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.