The points of issue
First edition: Harper & Row 1964; Harper code on the copyright page; first-issue dust jacket priced the printed price with Fitzhugh's own art. No later-printing statement.
Is this the true first?
US Harper & Row is the true first. The Harper copyright-page code and the the printed price first-issue jacket are the identifying points.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions omit the Harper code, lack the price, are reduced in size, and carry a board blind-stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Harriet the Spy a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition: Harper & Row 1964; Harper code on the copyright page; first-issue dust jacket priced the printed price with Fitzhugh's own art. No later-printing statement.
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 & Row is the true first. The Harper copyright-page code and the the printed price first-issue jacket are the identifying points.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions omit the Harper code, lack the price, are reduced in size, and carry a board blind-stamp.
I have a first edition of Harriet the Spy — 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.