The points of issue
First edition 1956, Harcourt, Brace and Company (New York), title page dated 1956. The first printing is identified by the words First Edition stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing notice. Illustrations by Beth and Joe Krush; cloth binding.
Is this the true first?
US true first. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1957.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Harcourt removed the First Edition statement on later printings, so a copy lacking it or carrying a later-printing line is a reprint. The Harcourt single-letter printing code did not exist until the early 1980s and does not apply to a 1956 title.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Miracles on Maple Hill a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition 1956, Harcourt, Brace and Company (New York), title page dated 1956. The first printing is identified by the words First Edition stated on the copyright page, with no later-printing notice. Illustrations by Beth and Joe Krush; cloth binding.
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. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1957.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Harcourt removed the First Edition statement on later printings, so a copy lacking it or carrying a later-printing line is a reprint. The Harcourt single-letter printing code did not exist until the early 1980s and does not apply to a 1956 title.
I have a first edition of Miracles on Maple Hill — 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.