# Is "Camilla Dickinson" by Madeleine L'Engle a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Camilla Dickinson by Madeleine L'Engle (Simon & Schuster, 1951) is identified by: Simon & Schuster first printing dated 1951 on the title page, in dust jacket. US Simon & Schuster (New York) is the true first edition; the 1951 'Camilla Dickinson' text precedes the later revised, retitled 'Camilla.'

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Simon & Schuster first printing dated 1951 on the title page, in dust jacket
- A true first is not a book-club edition; confirm printing statements before assuming later state
- Publisher imprint reads Simon & Schuster
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Madeleine L'Engle |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
| Year | 1951 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | Simon & Schuster first printing dated 1951 on the title page, in dust jacket |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Simon & Schuster first printing dated 1951 on the title page, in dust jacket. A true first is not a book-club edition; confirm printing statements before assuming later state.

## Is this the true first?
US Simon & Schuster (New York) is the true first edition; the 1951 'Camilla Dickinson' text precedes the later revised, retitled 'Camilla.'

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club reprints are physically lighter, typically lack a jacket price, and carry no first-printing indicators. The retitled and revised 'Camilla' is a later edition, not this first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Camilla Dickinson* by Madeleine L'Engle a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/camilla-dickinson
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.