The points of issue
First edition 1938, Farrar & Rinehart (NY). The first printing carries the same 1938 date on the title page and copyright page with no later-printing line. A useful issue test is the author's list of works: very early copies list only 'Kintu' and 'Thimble Summer'; later printings add titles such as 'The Sea Is All Around' (1940) and 'The Saturdays' (1941). Author-illustrated; blue cloth.
Is this the true first?
US true first. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1939. Imprint matters: later reprints appear under Rinehart & Company and Holt.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Reprints under later imprints (Rinehart & Company, Holt) and the appearance of post-1938 titles in the author's-works list indicate a later printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Thimble Summer a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition 1938, Farrar & Rinehart (NY). The first printing carries the same 1938 date on the title page and copyright page with no later-printing line. A useful issue test is the author's list of works: very early copies list only 'Kintu' and 'Thimble Summer'; later printings add titles such as 'The Sea Is All Around' (1940) and 'The Saturdays' (1941). Author-illustrated; blue cloth.
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 1939. Imprint matters: later reprints appear under Rinehart & Company and Holt.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Reprints under later imprints (Rinehart & Company, Holt) and the appearance of post-1938 titles in the author's-works list indicate a later printing.
I have a first edition of Thimble Summer — 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.