The points of issue
First edition 1941, Dodd, Mead (New York). First printing states 'First Edition' on the title page and corresponds to the September 1941 printing (the October 1941 printing is the second). Illustrations by Paul Lantz; pictorial endpapers, double-page color spreads; beige buckram cloth stamped in brown.
Is this the true first?
US true first. Won the Newbery Medal in 1942.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Earliest jackets carry the original price and show no Newbery Medal; jackets with the medal added postdate the 1942 award. Later printings add printing statements.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Matchlock Gun a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition 1941, Dodd, Mead (New York). First printing states 'First Edition' on the title page and corresponds to the September 1941 printing (the October 1941 printing is the second). Illustrations by Paul Lantz; pictorial endpapers, double-page color spreads; beige buckram cloth stamped in brown.
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. Won the Newbery Medal in 1942.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Earliest jackets carry the original price and show no Newbery Medal; jackets with the medal added postdate the 1942 award. Later printings add printing statements.
I have a first edition of The Matchlock Gun — 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.