How to identify a first printing
- On first printings, the copyright page carries a 'First Edition' statement together with a number line whose lowest digit is 1
- First printing is indicated by the presence of '1' as the lowest number in the number row
Notable points & cautions
- Imprint of HarperCollins (it came into the Harper fold via William Morrow); follows the HarperCollins children's convention
- Standard HarperCollins caveat: the 'First Edition' statement can be left in place on later printings, so the number line is the deciding evidence
- Founded 1974 by Susan Hirschman; Kevin Henkes and Donald Crews titles are flagship collectibles
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Greenwillow Books book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. On first printings, the copyright page carries a 'First Edition' statement together with a number line whose lowest digit is 1 First printing is indicated by the presence of '1' as the lowest number in the number row
Does Greenwillow Books use a number line?
First printing is indicated by the presence of '1' as the lowest number in the number row
Is a book-club edition a Greenwillow Books first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Imprint of HarperCollins (it came into the Harper fold via William Morrow); follows the HarperCollins children's convention
What era does this cover?
This covers Greenwillow Books (1974-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.
Greenwillow Books titles with documented first-edition points
Each link opens that title’s specific points of issue — the exact marks that separate a true first printing from a later one.
- The Hero and the Crown (Robin McKinley, 1984)
- The Whipping Boy (Sid Fleischman, 1986)