The points of issue
First edition 1946, Viking (New York), issued September 1946. The first printing carries the published-1946 statement on the copyright page with no later printings listed. Lithographs by Ruth Chrisman Gannett; cream cloth with orange lettering and motif, top edge stained orange. First-issue jacket bears no Newbery Medal seal.
Is this the true first?
US true first. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1947. A Junior Literary Guild edition appeared in 1946 as a separate variant; the Viking trade issue is the collected first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Viking later printings list additional printings on the verso, and later jackets add the Newbery seal.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Miss Hickory a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition 1946, Viking (New York), issued September 1946. The first printing carries the published-1946 statement on the copyright page with no later printings listed. Lithographs by Ruth Chrisman Gannett; cream cloth with orange lettering and motif, top edge stained orange. First-issue jacket bears no 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. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1947. A Junior Literary Guild edition appeared in 1946 as a separate variant; the Viking trade issue is the collected first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Viking later printings list additional printings on the verso, and later jackets add the Newbery seal.
I have a first edition of Miss Hickory — 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.