The points of issue
First edition 1999, Delacorte Press, New York. The first printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1; copyright 1999. Pictorial boards in a first-state dust jacket without the Newbery Medal seal.
Is this the true first?
US true first. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 2000 and the Coretta Scott King Author Award.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Missing 'First Edition' or a number line not ending in 1 indicates a later printing. Later jacket states carry a higher printed price, book-club editions lack a jacket price, and post-award jackets add the award seals.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Bud, Not Buddy a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition 1999, Delacorte Press, New York. The first printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1; copyright 1999. Pictorial boards in a first-state dust jacket without the Newbery Medal seal.
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. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 2000 and the Coretta Scott King Author Award.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Missing 'First Edition' or a number line not ending in 1 indicates a later printing. Later jacket states carry a higher printed price, book-club editions lack a jacket price, and post-award jackets add the award seals.
I have a first edition of Bud, Not Buddy — 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.