The points of issue
First edition published 1980 by Thomas Y. Crowell, New York. The first printing carries a 1 to 10 number line on the copyright page (a present 1 denotes the first printing). Red cloth-backed boards with dark endpapers; first-issue dust jacket carries the original price and no Newbery Award sticker.
Is this the true first?
US true first edition (Thomas Y. Crowell, 1980). Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1981.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A number line that does not include the 1 indicates a later printing; book-club editions typically lack a printed jacket price; jackets issued after the award add the Newbery sticker.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Jacob Have I Loved a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition published 1980 by Thomas Y. Crowell, New York. The first printing carries a 1 to 10 number line on the copyright page (a present 1 denotes the first printing). Red cloth-backed boards with dark endpapers; first-issue dust jacket carries the original price and no Newbery Award sticker.
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 edition (Thomas Y. Crowell, 1980). Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1981.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A number line that does not include the 1 indicates a later printing; book-club editions typically lack a printed jacket price; jackets issued after the award add the Newbery sticker.
I have a first edition of Jacob Have I Loved — 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.