# Is "Sarah, Plain and Tall" by Patricia MacLachlan a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan (Harper & Row, 1985) is identified by: First edition published 1985 by Harper & Row, New York. US true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition published 1985 by Harper & Row, New York
- First printing carries a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page (often alongside a 'First Edition' statement); the number line is the decisive point
- First-state dust jacket without the Newbery seal
- Publisher imprint reads Harper & Row
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Patricia MacLachlan |
| Publisher | Harper & Row |
| Year | 1985 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | First edition published 1985 by Harper & Row, New York |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition published 1985 by Harper & Row, New York. First printing carries a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page (often alongside a 'First Edition' statement); the number line is the decisive point. First-state dust jacket without the Newbery seal.

## Is this the true first?
US true first. Newbery Medal 1986.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Harper & Row in this era frequently retained the 'First Edition' statement on later printings, so rely on the number line — a line beginning with 4 or higher (with 1 absent) indicates a later printing. Book-club editions are unpriced; post-award jackets add the seal.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Sarah, Plain and Tall* by Patricia MacLachlan a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/sarah-plain-and-tall
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.