# Is "Otis Spofford" by Beverly Cleary a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Otis Spofford by Beverly Cleary (William Morrow, 1953) is identified by: Morrow first dated 1953 on the title/copyright page with no statement of later printing; illustrated by Louis Darling; first-issue dust jacket carries the original price. US Morrow first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Morrow first dated 1953 on the title/copyright page with no statement of later printing; illustrated by Louis Darling; first-issue dust jacket carries the original price
- Publisher imprint reads William Morrow
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Beverly Cleary |
| Publisher | William Morrow |
| Year | 1953 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | Morrow first dated 1953 on the title/copyright page with no statement of later printing… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Morrow first dated 1953 on the title/copyright page with no statement of later printing; illustrated by Louis Darling; first-issue dust jacket carries the original price.

## Is this the true first?
US Morrow first edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club and later printings lack the original jacket price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Otis Spofford* by Beverly Cleary a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/otis-spofford
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.