# Is "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson (Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1980) is identified by: First edition published 1980 by Thomas Y. US true first edition (Thomas Y.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 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
- Publisher imprint reads Thomas Y. Crowell Company
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Katherine Paterson |
| Publisher | Thomas Y. Crowell Company |
| Year | 1980 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | First edition published 1980 by Thomas Y. Crowell, New York |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## 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.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Jacob Have I Loved* by Katherine Paterson a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/jacob-have-i-loved
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.