The points of issue
First edition published 1971 by Atheneum, New York. The true first printing states First Edition on the copyright page. Illustrated by Zena Bernstein; pictorial cloth in a pictorial dust jacket; first-state jacket lacks the Newbery seal and retains the printed jacket price.
Is this the true first?
United States true first. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1972, so first-printing jackets predate the seal.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Atheneum reprints drop the First Edition statement. Book-club editions lack the price and statement; post-award jackets add the Newbery seal.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition published 1971 by Atheneum, New York. The true first printing states First Edition on the copyright page. Illustrated by Zena Bernstein; pictorial cloth in a pictorial dust jacket; first-state jacket lacks the Newbery seal and retains the printed jacket price.
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. United States true first. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1972, so first-printing jackets predate the seal.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Atheneum reprints drop the First Edition statement. Book-club editions lack the price and statement; post-award jackets add the Newbery seal.
I have a first edition of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH — 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.