The points of issue
First edition: Harper & Brothers 1945; Harper code on the copyright page; first-issue dust jacket priced the printed price with Garth Williams art. No later-printing statement.
Is this the true first?
US Harper is the true first (Garth Williams's first major book). The Harper copyright-page code and the printed price first-issue jacket are the markers.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions omit the Harper code, drop the price, are smaller, and carry a board blind-stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Stuart Little a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition: Harper & Brothers 1945; Harper code on the copyright page; first-issue dust jacket priced the printed price with Garth Williams art. No later-printing statement.
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 is the true first (Garth Williams's first major book). The Harper copyright-page code and the printed price first-issue jacket are the markers.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions omit the Harper code, drop the price, are smaller, and carry a board blind-stamp.
I have a first edition of Stuart Little — 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.