The points of issue
First edition published 1981 by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, New York. First printing is identified by 'First edition' stated on the copyright page together with the full Harcourt letter line (the line of letters; a first printing retains the complete sequence including the earliest letter). Illustrations by Alice and Martin Provensen; pictorial cloth. First-state dust jacket carries no award seal or medal sticker.
Is this the true first?
US true first. Newbery Medal 1982. Also a 1982 Caldecott Honor — the first book to receive both the Newbery and a Caldecott citation.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A shortened Harcourt letter line (earliest letter removed) indicates a later printing. Book-club editions are unpriced and typically lack the letter line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Visit to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition published 1981 by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, New York. First printing is identified by 'First edition' stated on the copyright page together with the full Harcourt letter line (the line of letters; a first printing retains the complete sequence including the earliest letter). Illustrations by Alice and Martin Provensen; pictorial cloth. First-state dust jacket carries no award seal or medal sticker.
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. Newbery Medal 1982. Also a 1982 Caldecott Honor — the first book to receive both the Newbery and a Caldecott citation.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A shortened Harcourt letter line (earliest letter removed) indicates a later printing. Book-club editions are unpriced and typically lack the letter line.
I have a first edition of A Visit to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers — 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.