The points of issue
First edition, Harper & Row, 1969, with James Barkley illustrations. The copyright page bears the Harper first-printing alphanumeric code (an 'I-T' style code denoting 1969) and the 1969 copyright. The first-state jacket retains the original printed price on the flap and does NOT carry the Newbery Medal seal (the award came in 1970).
Is this the true first?
US Harper & Row 1969 is the true first; the book won the 1970 Newbery Medal.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions drop the Harper alphanumeric code from the copyright page, add the Newbery seal to the jacket, lack the printed price, and carry a blind-stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Sounder a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, Harper & Row, 1969, with James Barkley illustrations. The copyright page bears the Harper first-printing alphanumeric code (an 'I-T' style code denoting 1969) and the 1969 copyright. The first-state jacket retains the original printed price on the flap and does NOT carry the Newbery Medal seal (the award came in 1970).
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 Harper & Row 1969 is the true first; the book won the 1970 Newbery Medal.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions drop the Harper alphanumeric code from the copyright page, add the Newbery seal to the jacket, lack the printed price, and carry a blind-stamp.
I have a first edition of Sounder — 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.