The points of issue
First edition 1949, Doubleday (Garden City; imprint may read Junior Books, Doubleday & Company). The first printing states First Edition on the copyright page, per Doubleday's convention in this era. Author-illustrated by Marguerite de Angeli; blue cloth with silver spine lettering and a front-cover illustration. First-issue jacket bears no Newbery Medal seal.
Is this the true first?
US true first. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1950.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Absence of the First Edition statement, or presence of later-printing or book-club marks, indicates a reprint.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Door in the Wall a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition 1949, Doubleday (Garden City; imprint may read Junior Books, Doubleday & Company). The first printing states First Edition on the copyright page, per Doubleday's convention in this era. Author-illustrated by Marguerite de Angeli; blue cloth with silver spine lettering and a front-cover illustration. First-issue jacket bears no 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. US true first. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1950.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Absence of the First Edition statement, or presence of later-printing or book-club marks, indicates a reprint.
I have a first edition of The Door in the Wall — 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.