The points of issue
First edition 1951, Harcourt, Brace and Company (New York), title page dated 1951. The first printing is identified by the words First Edition stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing notice. Black-and-white illustrations by the author, original cloth boards.
Is this the true first?
US true first. Author Eleanor Estes. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1952.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Harcourt removed the First Edition statement on later printings, so a copy lacking that statement or carrying a later-printing line is a reprint. Note: the Harcourt single-letter printing code (the A/B/C letter line) was not introduced until the early 1980s and does not apply to a 1951 title.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Ginger Pye a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition 1951, Harcourt, Brace and Company (New York), title page dated 1951. The first printing is identified by the words First Edition stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing notice. Black-and-white illustrations by the author, original cloth boards.
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. Author Eleanor Estes. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1952.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Harcourt removed the First Edition statement on later printings, so a copy lacking that statement or carrying a later-printing line is a reprint. Note: the Harcourt single-letter printing code (the A/B/C letter line) was not introduced until the early 1980s and does not apply to a 1951 title.
I have a first edition of Ginger Pye — 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.