# Is "The Master Puppeteer" by Katherine Paterson a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Master Puppeteer by Katherine Paterson (Thomas Y. Crowell, 1975) is identified by: Crowell first edition, New York, 1975, illustrated by Haru Wells. US Thomas Y.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Thomas Y. Crowell first edition, New York, 1975, illustrated by Haru Wells
- First printing shown by no later-printing statement on the copyright page
- First-issue dust jacket carries the original price and predates the National Book Award seal
- Won the National Book Award (Children's Literature, awarded 1977)
- Publisher imprint reads Thomas Y. Crowell
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Katherine Paterson |
| Publisher | Thomas Y. Crowell |
| Year | 1975 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | Thomas Y. Crowell first edition, New York, 1975, illustrated by Haru Wells |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Thomas Y. Crowell first edition, New York, 1975, illustrated by Haru Wells. First printing shown by no later-printing statement on the copyright page. First-issue dust jacket carries the original price and predates the National Book Award seal. Won the National Book Award (Children's Literature, awarded 1977).

## Is this the true first?
US Thomas Y. Crowell edition is the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions typically lack the printed jacket price; later jackets/reprints may add the award seal.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Master Puppeteer* by Katherine Paterson a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-master-puppeteer
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.