# Is "Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise (Mercy Watson 4)" by Kate DiCamillo a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise (Mercy Watson 4) by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick Press, 2007) is identified by: Fourth title in the Mercy Watson series, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. US Candlewick edition is the true first (2007).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Fourth title in the Mercy Watson series, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
- Candlewick, 2007
- First printing shows a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page
- Issued in pictorial hardcover boards without a dust jacket, as issued
- Publisher imprint reads Candlewick Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Kate DiCamillo |
| Publisher | Candlewick Press |
| Year | 2007 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | Fourth title in the Mercy Watson series, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Fourth title in the Mercy Watson series, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. Candlewick, 2007. First printing shows a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. Issued in pictorial hardcover boards without a dust jacket, as issued.

## Is this the true first?
US Candlewick edition is the true first (2007). US author and US publisher, so no competing UK or Canadian precedence.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings advance the number line so the sequence no longer ends in 1.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise (Mercy Watson 4)* by Kate DiCamillo a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/mercy-watson-princess-in-disguise-mercy-watson-4
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.