The points of issue
True first is the first Little, Brown printing, identified by the copyright-page publication statement with no later-printing notice. Multiple printings were run in 1939, so the absence of any added printing line is the key point. Original plum cloth over boards with gilt lettering, top edge stained, deckle edges.
Is this the true first?
US Little, Brown edition (1939) is the true first; the first British edition followed from Robert Hale in 1946.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A Book-of-the-Month Club edition exists, identifiable by the board blind-stamp and the absence of the first-printing statement; later Little, Brown printings are likewise reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Wickford Point a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the first Little, Brown printing, identified by the copyright-page publication statement with no later-printing notice. Multiple printings were run in 1939, so the absence of any added printing line is the key point. Original plum cloth over boards with gilt lettering, top edge stained, deckle edges.
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 Little, Brown edition (1939) is the true first; the first British edition followed from Robert Hale in 1946.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A Book-of-the-Month Club edition exists, identifiable by the board blind-stamp and the absence of the first-printing statement; later Little, Brown printings are likewise reprints.
I have a first edition of Wickford Point — 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.