The points of issue
First edition 1930, Macmillan (New York). The first printing carries the stated line 'Published August, 1930' on the copyright page with no reprint-history lines below it. Original red cloth; illustrations by Lynd Ward. Original pictorial dust jacket shows no Newbery Medal (the medal was awarded in 1931, after first publication).
Is this the true first?
US true first. Newbery Medal 1931.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Macmillan printings add reprint-history lines on the verso. The revised 1958 edition with new Lynd Ward art is a distinct later issue, not a first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Cat Who Went to Heaven a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition 1930, Macmillan (New York). The first printing carries the stated line 'Published August, 1930' on the copyright page with no reprint-history lines below it. Original red cloth; illustrations by Lynd Ward. Original pictorial dust jacket shows no Newbery Medal (the medal was awarded in 1931, after first publication).
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 true first. Newbery Medal 1931.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later Macmillan printings add reprint-history lines on the verso. The revised 1958 edition with new Lynd Ward art is a distinct later issue, not a first.
I have a first edition of The Cat Who Went to Heaven — 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.