The points of issue
First edition 1954, Harper & Brothers (New York), title page dated 1954. The first printing is identified by the words First Edition on the copyright page with no later-printing statement. Illustrations by Maurice Sendak; cloth binding.
Is this the true first?
US true first. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1955; a copy bearing a Newbery seal on the jacket is typically a later printing.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Harper discontinued its month-and-year letter code after 1949, so no such code applies to a 1954 book. From the 1920s into the 1970s Harper relied on a stated First Edition; a copy lacking that statement, or showing a later-printing line, is a reprint.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Wheel on the School a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition 1954, Harper & Brothers (New York), title page dated 1954. The first printing is identified by the words First Edition on the copyright page with no later-printing statement. Illustrations by Maurice Sendak; cloth binding.
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 1955; a copy bearing a Newbery seal on the jacket is typically a later printing.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Harper discontinued its month-and-year letter code after 1949, so no such code applies to a 1954 book. From the 1920s into the 1970s Harper relied on a stated First Edition; a copy lacking that statement, or showing a later-printing line, is a reprint.
I have a first edition of The Wheel on the School — 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.