The points of issue
First edition 1967, Atheneum (New York). First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page. Illustrated by the author, E. L. Konigsburg; pictorial cloth. First-state jacket retains the original printed price and lacks the Newbery Medal seal.
Is this the true first?
US true first, Atheneum 1967. Won the 1968 Newbery Medal, so the seal is a later jacket point.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Atheneum reprints drop the 'First Edition' statement. Book-club editions lack the price and statement; post-award jackets add the seal.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition 1967, Atheneum (New York). First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page. Illustrated by the author, E. L. Konigsburg; pictorial cloth. First-state jacket retains the original printed price and lacks 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, Atheneum 1967. Won the 1968 Newbery Medal, so the seal is a later jacket point.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Atheneum reprints drop the 'First Edition' statement. Book-club editions lack the price and statement; post-award jackets add the seal.
I have a first edition of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler — 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.