The points of issue
First edition 1988, Harper & Row (New York). The first printing states 'First Edition' and carries the Harper code with a number line ending in 1. Illustrated by Eric Beddows; partial-cloth pictorial boards.
Is this the true first?
US true first. Newbery Medal 1989.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Absence of the 'First Edition' statement or a number line not ending in 1 indicates a later printing; book-club editions typically lack a jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition 1988, Harper & Row (New York). The first printing states 'First Edition' and carries the Harper code with a number line ending in 1. Illustrated by Eric Beddows; partial-cloth pictorial boards.
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. Newbery Medal 1989.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Absence of the 'First Edition' statement or a number line not ending in 1 indicates a later printing; book-club editions typically lack a jacket price.
I have a first edition of Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices — 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.