# Is "Park's Quest" by Katherine Paterson a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Park's Quest by Katherine Paterson (Lodestar Books, 1988) is identified by: True first is the US Lodestar Books/E.P. US Lodestar Books/E.P.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- True first is the US Lodestar Books/E.P. Dutton hardcover of 1988
- On a first printing the copyright-page number line runs down to 1 (Dutton convention), and the dust jacket carries its original printed price
- Confirm the Lodestar/Dutton imprint and the number line ending in 1
- Publisher imprint reads Lodestar Books
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Katherine Paterson |
| Publisher | Lodestar Books |
| Year | 1988 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | True first is the US Lodestar Books/E.P. Dutton hardcover of 1988 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
True first is the US Lodestar Books/E.P. Dutton hardcover of 1988. On a first printing the copyright-page number line runs down to 1 (Dutton convention), and the dust jacket carries its original printed price. Confirm the Lodestar/Dutton imprint and the number line ending in 1.

## Is this the true first?
US Lodestar Books/E.P. Dutton edition is the true first; Paterson is American and published first in the United States. A UK edition also appeared but is not the first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack a printed jacket price and typically lack the full number line; do not mistake a clipped trade jacket for a book club copy.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Park's Quest* by Katherine Paterson a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/parks-quest
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.