The points of issue
First edition 1933, Little, Brown (Boston). On the Little, Brown convention the first printing carries the 1933 date and a 'Published [month] 1933' statement on the copyright page with no later-printing line; cloth binding. Beware copies dated to the 1934 printing that followed the Newbery announcement, which are not the true first.
Is this the true first?
US true first. A biography of Louisa May Alcott. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1934.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Little, Brown later printings add a printing statement or printing line; post-medal reprints differ from the 1933 first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Invincible Louisa a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition 1933, Little, Brown (Boston). On the Little, Brown convention the first printing carries the 1933 date and a 'Published [month] 1933' statement on the copyright page with no later-printing line; cloth binding. Beware copies dated to the 1934 printing that followed the Newbery announcement, which are not the true first.
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. A biography of Louisa May Alcott. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1934.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Little, Brown later printings add a printing statement or printing line; post-medal reprints differ from the 1933 first.
I have a first edition of Invincible Louisa — 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.