The points of issue
First edition 1996, Atheneum (a Jean Karl Book), New York. The first printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1. Pictorial boards in a first-state dust jacket without the Newbery Medal seal.
Is this the true first?
US true first. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1997.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Atheneum reprints drop the 'First Edition' statement and the terminal 1 from the number line. Book-club editions lack a jacket price, and post-award jackets add the Newbery Medal seal.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The View from Saturday a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition 1996, Atheneum (a Jean Karl Book), New York. The first printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1. Pictorial boards in a first-state dust jacket without the 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 1997.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Atheneum reprints drop the 'First Edition' statement and the terminal 1 from the number line. Book-club editions lack a jacket price, and post-award jackets add the Newbery Medal seal.
I have a first edition of The View from Saturday — 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.