# Is "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien (illus. Zena Bernstein) a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien (illus. Zena Bernstein) (Atheneum, 1971) is identified by: First edition 1971, Atheneum (New York), stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page with no later-printing line. US Atheneum 1971 is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition 1971, Atheneum (New York), stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page with no later-printing line
- Grey cloth with a purple mouse to the front board and purple spine lettering; in-text and full-page illustrations by Zena Bernstein
- First-state jacket retains the original printed price on the front flap and does NOT bear the Newbery Medal seal
- Publisher imprint reads Atheneum
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Robert C. O'Brien (illus. Zena Bernstein) |
| Publisher | Atheneum |
| Year | 1971 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | First edition 1971, Atheneum (New York), stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page with no later-printing line |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition 1971, Atheneum (New York), stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page with no later-printing line. Grey cloth with a purple mouse to the front board and purple spine lettering; in-text and full-page illustrations by Zena Bernstein. First-state jacket retains the original printed price on the front flap and does NOT bear the Newbery Medal seal.

## Is this the true first?
US Atheneum 1971 is the true first. Winner of the 1972 Newbery Medal. O'Brien (pseudonym of Robert Leslie Conly) died in 1973, so signed copies are scarce.

## 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.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH* by Robert C. O'Brien (illus. Zena Bernstein) a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/mrs-frisby-and-the-rats-of-nimh
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.