The points of issue
First edition published 1974 by Macmillan, New York. The first printing carries no reprint-history list on the copyright page; dealer copies of firsts show a First Edition designation with a 1 to 10 number line and no later-printing notation. Cloth binding; first-issue dust jacket has the original price, illustration by James McMullan, and no Newbery Medal sticker.
Is this the true first?
US true first edition (Macmillan, 1974). Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1975.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A reprint-history line or a number line missing 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 M. C. Higgins, the Great a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition published 1974 by Macmillan, New York. The first printing carries no reprint-history list on the copyright page; dealer copies of firsts show a First Edition designation with a 1 to 10 number line and no later-printing notation. Cloth binding; first-issue dust jacket has the original price, illustration by James McMullan, and no Newbery Medal 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 (Macmillan, 1974). Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1975.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A reprint-history line or a number line missing 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 M. C. Higgins, the Great — 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.