The points of issue
The 1972 E. P. Dutton hardcover first, illustrated by Roy Doty with full-page black-and-white drawings, in orange boards with the spine stamped in black and a pictorial blind stamp to the front board; first-issue jacket with the original price to the front flap. Introduces the Hatcher family (Peter and Fudge).
Is this the true first?
The US Dutton 1972 edition is the true first; Dell paperbacks are later. First hardcover printings are scarce.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club and paperback editions are later. Identify the Dutton first by the imprint and binding; book-club copies usually lack the printed flap price and are often noted as BCE/BOMC.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The 1972 E. P. Dutton hardcover first, illustrated by Roy Doty with full-page black-and-white drawings, in orange boards with the spine stamped in black and a pictorial blind stamp to the front board; first-issue jacket with the original price to the front flap. Introduces the Hatcher family (Peter and Fudge).
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. The US Dutton 1972 edition is the true first; Dell paperbacks are later. First hardcover printings are scarce.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club and paperback editions are later. Identify the Dutton first by the imprint and binding; book-club copies usually lack the printed flap price and are often noted as BCE/BOMC.
I have a first edition of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing — 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.