The points of issue
First edition: Bradbury Press imprint, 1987; full number line ending in 1 ('10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1') on the copyright page; first-issue jacket priced the printed price and carries NO Newbery Honor seal (the Honor was awarded in 1988, after publication).
Is this the true first?
US Bradbury Press is the true first. The no-Newbery-seal jacket plus the complete number line ending in 1 mark the true first printing; later printings/jackets add the silver Newbery Honor seal.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack a number line/price and add the Newbery Honor seal to the jacket; club copies are smaller with a blind-stamp on the board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Hatchet a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition: Bradbury Press imprint, 1987; full number line ending in 1 ('10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1') on the copyright page; first-issue jacket priced the printed price and carries NO Newbery Honor seal (the Honor was awarded in 1988, after publication).
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 Bradbury Press is the true first. The no-Newbery-seal jacket plus the complete number line ending in 1 mark the true first printing; later printings/jackets add the silver Newbery Honor seal.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions lack a number line/price and add the Newbery Honor seal to the jacket; club copies are smaller with a blind-stamp on the board.
I have a first edition of Hatchet — 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.