# Is "Meet the Austins" by Madeleine L'Engle a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Meet the Austins by Madeleine L'Engle (Vanguard Press, 1960) is identified by: Vanguard Press first edition dated 1960 with no later-printing statement, in dust jacket. US Vanguard Press (New York) is the true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Vanguard Press first edition dated 1960 with no later-printing statement, in dust jacket
- First Austin Family book
- Verify no numbered-printing statement (later printings state the printing, e.g. 'ninth printing')
- Publisher imprint reads Vanguard Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Madeleine L'Engle |
| Publisher | Vanguard Press |
| Year | 1960 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | Vanguard Press first edition dated 1960 with no later-printing statement, in dust jacket |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Vanguard Press first edition dated 1960 with no later-printing statement, in dust jacket. First Austin Family book. Verify no numbered-printing statement (later printings state the printing, e.g. 'ninth printing').

## Is this the true first?
US Vanguard Press (New York) is the true first edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club and later Vanguard printings state their printing and/or lack a jacket price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Meet the Austins* by Madeleine L'Engle a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/meet-the-austins
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.