The points of issue
First edition, first printing, E. P. Dutton (New York), 1978. The copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries the complete number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ending in 1. Octavo, roughly 185 pages, in pictorial cloth. The first-state jacket retains the original printed price on the flap and does NOT bear the Newbery Medal seal; the jacket was designed by the author, Ellen Raskin.
Is this the true first?
US Dutton 1978 is the true first. The book won the 1979 Newbery Medal.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A number line not ending in 1, or 'Book Club Edition' on the jacket flap with no printed price, indicates a later printing or club edition. Post-award jackets add the Newbery seal.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Westing Game a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing, E. P. Dutton (New York), 1978. The copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries the complete number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ending in 1. Octavo, roughly 185 pages, in pictorial cloth. The first-state jacket retains the original printed price on the flap and does NOT bear the Newbery Medal seal; the jacket was designed by the author, Ellen Raskin.
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 Dutton 1978 is the true first. The book won the 1979 Newbery Medal.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A number line not ending in 1, or 'Book Club Edition' on the jacket flap with no printed price, indicates a later printing or club edition. Post-award jackets add the Newbery seal.
I have a first edition of The Westing Game — 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.