The points of issue
First edition, first printing: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York, 1959. The first printing is stated First Printing on the copyright page, dated 1959. Cherry-red cloth lettered in black; full- and half-page line drawings by Symeon Shimin. First-issue jacket without the Newbery Medal seal (Medal awarded 1960).
Is this the true first?
US true first. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1960.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Crowell first printings carry a stated First Printing on the copyright page; later printings change or drop this statement. Post-award copies and jackets add the Newbery seal.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Onion John a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York, 1959. The first printing is stated First Printing on the copyright page, dated 1959. Cherry-red cloth lettered in black; full- and half-page line drawings by Symeon Shimin. First-issue jacket without the Newbery Medal seal (Medal awarded 1960).
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 1960.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Crowell first printings carry a stated First Printing on the copyright page; later printings change or drop this statement. Post-award copies and jackets add the Newbery seal.
I have a first edition of Onion John — 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.