The points of issue
First state has the Harper code 'I-B' on the copyright page (I = January... per Harper code; the first-issue letter combination identifies 1952). First-issue dust jacket priced the printed price and lists no awards (Newbery Honor came after). Garth Williams's pictorial jacket with no medal sticker.
Is this the true first?
US Harper is the true first, preceding the UK Hamish Hamilton edition. The Harper copyright-page code distinguishes the first printing; the no-award jacket (no Newbery Honor mention) supports first-issue state.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions omit the Harper code, have no price on the jacket, frequently carry a blind-stamped dot on the rear board, and are printed on bulkier, lower-grade paper.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Charlotte's Web a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First state has the Harper code 'I-B' on the copyright page (I = January... per Harper code; the first-issue letter combination identifies 1952). First-issue dust jacket priced the printed price and lists no awards (Newbery Honor came after). Garth Williams's pictorial jacket with no 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 Harper is the true first, preceding the UK Hamish Hamilton edition. The Harper copyright-page code distinguishes the first printing; the no-award jacket (no Newbery Honor mention) supports first-issue state.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions omit the Harper code, have no price on the jacket, frequently carry a blind-stamped dot on the rear board, and are printed on bulkier, lower-grade paper.
I have a first edition of Charlotte's Web — 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.