The points of issue
True first is US Knopf 1961 with 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page; Nancy Ekholm Burkert illustrations; first-issue jacket priced the printed price.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf (1961) is the true first, preceding the UK Allen & Unwin edition (1967). The 'FIRST EDITION' statement and Burkert art define it.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions omit 'FIRST EDITION,' lack the jacket price, and are reduced in size; the UK first uses Michel Simeon (and later Quentin Blake) art, which is a separate 'first thus.'
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of James and the Giant Peach a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is US Knopf 1961 with 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page; Nancy Ekholm Burkert illustrations; first-issue jacket priced the printed price.
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 Knopf (1961) is the true first, preceding the UK Allen & Unwin edition (1967). The 'FIRST EDITION' statement and Burkert art define it.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions omit 'FIRST EDITION,' lack the jacket price, and are reduced in size; the UK first uses Michel Simeon (and later Quentin Blake) art, which is a separate 'first thus.'
I have a first edition of James and the Giant Peach — 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.