First Edition Points and Criteria for The Tale Of Despereaux

Year Published: 2003
Author Last Name: DiCamllo
Author First Name: Kate
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Original Price: $17.99
Pages: 270

Copyright page states "First edition 2003" with full number line "2 4 8 10 9 7 5 3 1" and no mention of Scholastic anywhere on the book. Boards are marbled brownish red with a picture of Despereaux in an ornate frame on the cover. First state of dust jacket has no reference to "Because of Winn-Dixie" on the front. Dust jackets from the first, and as late as the seventh printings lack a printed price on the dustjacket flap - they instead have a price sticker on the back of the dust jacket.

Note: The Newbery Medal award sticker has been found on first printings (probably added while on book store shelves.)

The first paperback edition was published by Candlewick in 2006. It too has a full number line "2 4 8 10 9 7 5 3 1".


Picture of the 2003 first edition dust jacket for The Tale Of Despereaux.


Picture of the first edition copyright page for The Tale Of Despereaux.


Picture of dust jacket where original $17.99 price is found for The Tale Of Despereaux.


Picture of the back dust jacket for the first edition of The Tale Of Despereaux.


Picture of the first edition Candlewick Press boards for The Tale Of Despereaux.


Picture of the back dust jacket flap for the first edition of The Tale Of Despereaux.


Picture of the first edition title page for The Tale Of Despereaux.


First printings and other early printings lack a printed price on the front dust jacket flap. The price was instead placed on a sticker on the back of the dust jacket.


The book on top is a first printing. The book below it is a seventh printing. Notice that the first printing jacket lacks the "author of Because of Winn-Dixie" statement on the top of the dust jacket.