# Is "The Able McLaughlins" by Margaret Wilson a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Able McLaughlins by Margaret Wilson (Harper & Brothers, 1923) is identified by: Harper first printings of this era state 'First Edition' on the copyright page and carry Harper's two-letter month-year code, where the second letter denotes the year (X = 1923). US Harper & Brothers 1923 is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Harper first printings of this era state 'First Edition' on the copyright page and carry Harper's two-letter month-year code, where the second letter denotes the year (X = 1923)
- So the copyright page should read 'First Edition' with a code ending in X. Title page dated 1923
- Publisher imprint reads Harper & Brothers
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Margaret Wilson |
| Publisher | Harper & Brothers |
| Year | 1923 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Harper first printings of this era state 'First Edition' on the copyright page and carry Harper's two-letter month-year code, where the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Harper first printings of this era state 'First Edition' on the copyright page and carry Harper's two-letter month-year code, where the second letter denotes the year (X = 1923). So the copyright page should read 'First Edition' with a code ending in X. Title page dated 1923.

## Is this the true first?
US Harper & Brothers 1923 is the true first. Confirm via the stated 'First Edition' plus the Harper code with the year letter X (1923). Harper began stating 'First Edition' in 1922 alongside the letter code, so both should be present.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Scarce title with few reprints; no notable book-club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Able McLaughlins* by Margaret Wilson a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-able-mclaughlins
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.