The points of issue
First edition published 1969 by Harper & Row, New York. The true first printing carries the Harper code on the copyright page with no later-printing statement and no ISBN. Illustrated by James Barkley; pictorial cloth in a pictorial dust jacket; first-state jacket lacks the Newbery Medal seal.
Is this the true first?
United States true first. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1970, so first-printing jackets predate the seal.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A changed Harper code on the copyright page indicates a later printing. Book-club editions lack the printed price and the publisher code; post-award jackets add the Newbery seal.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Sounder a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition published 1969 by Harper & Row, New York. The true first printing carries the Harper code on the copyright page with no later-printing statement and no ISBN. Illustrated by James Barkley; pictorial cloth in a pictorial dust jacket; first-state jacket lacks the Newbery Medal seal.
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. United States true first. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1970, so first-printing jackets predate the seal.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A changed Harper code on the copyright page indicates a later printing. Book-club editions lack the printed price and the publisher code; post-award jackets add the Newbery seal.
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.