The points of issue
First edition, first printing: 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page with the Harper code 'M-Q'. Bound in green cloth with lettering on the upper board. The first-state dust jacket advertises 'The Runaway Bunny' on the front flap and carries 'When the Wind Blew' and a 'Little Fur Family' advertisement on the rear flap, with the rear-panel imprint reading 'Harper & Brothers, New York & London'.
Is this the true first?
Harper & Brothers (New York) is the true first. Clement Hurd, dissatisfied with his original art, redrew his illustrations for a revised edition issued by Harper & Row in 1972; that revised edition is a separate 'first thus' and not the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The 1972 revised edition and book-club copies are distinct from the 1942 first. A Harper & Row imprint or the redrawn color illustrations indicate the later edition, not the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Runaway Bunny a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing: 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page with the Harper code 'M-Q'. Bound in green cloth with lettering on the upper board. The first-state dust jacket advertises 'The Runaway Bunny' on the front flap and carries 'When the Wind Blew' and a 'Little Fur Family' advertisement on the rear flap, with the rear-panel imprint reading 'Harper & Brothers, New York & London'.
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. Harper & Brothers (New York) is the true first. Clement Hurd, dissatisfied with his original art, redrew his illustrations for a revised edition issued by Harper & Row in 1972; that revised edition is a separate 'first thus' and not the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The 1972 revised edition and book-club copies are distinct from the 1942 first. A Harper & Row imprint or the redrawn color illustrations indicate the later edition, not the true first.
I have a first edition of The Runaway Bunny — 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.