The points of issue
First edition published 1972 by Harper & Row, New York, with black-and-white illustrations by John Schoenherr. The reliable first-printing point is the words First Edition stated on the copyright page. In this era Harper & Row also placed a printer's code (letter/number row) near the foot of the final text page; collectors treat the stated First Edition on the copyright page as the primary indicator. Illustrated paper-covered boards. First-issue dust jacket carries the original price and does not show the Newbery Medal seal.
Is this the true first?
US true first edition (Harper & Row, 1972). Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1973.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Absence of the stated First Edition on the copyright page indicates a later printing. Book-club copies typically lack a printed jacket price; jackets produced after the award add the Newbery seal.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Julie of the Wolves a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition published 1972 by Harper & Row, New York, with black-and-white illustrations by John Schoenherr. The reliable first-printing point is the words First Edition stated on the copyright page. In this era Harper & Row also placed a printer's code (letter/number row) near the foot of the final text page; collectors treat the stated First Edition on the copyright page as the primary indicator. Illustrated paper-covered boards. First-issue dust jacket carries the original price and does not show the Newbery Medal seal.
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 (Harper & Row, 1972). Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1973.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Absence of the stated First Edition on the copyright page indicates a later printing. Book-club copies typically lack a printed jacket price; jackets produced after the award add the Newbery seal.
I have a first edition of Julie of the Wolves — 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.