Where the Wild Things Are First Edition Deep Dive

The Picture Book Revolution

Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are (1963) is the most important American picture book of the 20th century — a work that permanently expanded what children’s literature could be. Before Sendak, picture books depicted childhood as safe, gentle, and sanitized. Where the Wild Things Are acknowledged that children feel rage, wildness, and a desire for power — and that these feelings are normal, manageable, and compatible with being loved. The book was controversial at publication (some librarians refused to stock it, fearing it would frighten children) and is now universally recognized as a masterpiece.

It won the Caldecott Medal in 1964 and has sold over 20 million copies worldwide. For collectors, Fine first editions represent the intersection of children’s literature, illustration art, and cultural history.

First Edition Identification

Publisher: Harper & Row, New York

Publication date: November 1963 (copyright page says 1963)

Physical description: Pictorial boards (illustration laminated to front board). 40 pages (48 including endpapers). Oblong format (approximately 9” × 10”).

First Printing Points

1. “First Edition” stated on copyright page, followed by letter code (e.g., “A-N” for first printing)
2. Harper & Row, Publishers on title page
3. Price $3.50 on front jacket flap (first printing price)
4. Dust jacket: features the Wild Things illustration on front, Sendak photo on rear flap
5. The words “WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE” in yellow on the jacket spine

The Code System

Harper & Row used a letter code on the copyright page:

• First printing: letters corresponding to month and year (e.g., “A-N” = first code)
• Look for the ABSENCE of later printing codes
• “First Edition” statement is the primary identifier

Print Run

The first printing was approximately 10,000 copies — a standard run for a major-publisher picture book by an established illustrator (Sendak had already published several books). The Caldecott Medal announcement (January 1964) immediately spurred additional printings.

Pricing

Condition Challenges

The Picture Book Format

Picture books suffer specific condition problems:

• Laminated boards: The illustration laminated to the front board can peel, bubble, or crack
• Oblong format: Wide books stress spine differently than tall books
• Heavy pages: Thick coated paper puts weight stress on binding
• Child use: By definition, picture books are handled by children (sticky hands, drops, crayons)
• Library copies: Many first printings went to libraries and were read hundreds of times

What “Fine” Means for This Book

• Laminated board illustration intact, no peeling or bubbling
• Spine tight, no cracks
• Pages clean — no marks, stains, or torn pages
• Dust jacket complete, bright, without significant wear
• No library markings, stickers, or tape residue

A Fine/Fine copy of Where the Wild Things Are represents a copy that was either never read by a child or was preserved with exceptional care — perhaps 2-3% of the first printing.

Signed Copies

Sendak (1928–2012) signed extensively throughout his long career. He attended literary events, gallery exhibitions, children’s literature conferences, and bookshop events. He was generous with his time and accessible to fans.

Availability: Signed copies of Where the Wild Things Are are moderately available — perhaps 5–10 appear at auction or through major dealers per year. Sendak signed for nearly 50 years after publication.

Drawings: Sendak sometimes accompanied his signature with a small drawing (a Wild Thing, Max in his wolf suit, or another Sendak character). Copies with drawings command significant premiums — $20,000–$50,000+.

Authentication: Sendak’s signature is well-documented and distinctive. His drawings are immediately recognizable.

The Sendak Bibliography (Key Titles)

The Sendak Trilogy

Sendak considered three of his books a thematic trilogy exploring childhood emotions:

1. Where the Wild Things Are (1963) — anger/wildness
2. In the Night Kitchen (1970) — dreams/curiosity
3. Outside Over There (1981) — fear/responsibility

A complete trilogy in first editions: $5,000–$36,000.

The Caldecott Effect

The Caldecott Medal (awarded annually for the most distinguished American picture book illustration) guarantees permanent institutional demand. Libraries, schools, and collectors all maintain Caldecott collections. Where the Wild Things Are benefits from being both a Caldecott winner AND a cultural icon — these are different (though overlapping) demand drivers.

Cultural Position

Where the Wild Things Are sits at multiple collecting intersections:

Children’s literature: Alongside Goodnight Moon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Harold and the Purple Crayon as defining American picture books.

Illustration art: Sendak’s cross-hatching technique and his ability to convey emotion through facial expression place him alongside Beatrix Potter, Arthur Rackham, and Edward Gorey as the finest children’s book illustrators.

Censorship history: The book was banned in some libraries for depicting a child “punished” by being sent to bed without supper, and for its “scary” imagery. This censorship history gives it a mild countercultural cachet.

Film: Spike Jonze’s 2009 live-action adaptation was divisive (too dark for young children, some said) but renewed cultural interest in the book.

Practical Collecting

Entry point: Signed Sendak (of any book, including his illustration-only work) is available at $200–$2,000. This provides a genuine Sendak signature at an accessible price.

The condition hunt: Finding a truly Fine/Fine first edition requires patience. Most surviving copies show some evidence of child handling. Be prepared to pay a significant premium for genuinely Fine copies.

Later printings: Distinguished from firsts by the absence of “First Edition” and the presence of later printing codes. These have no significant collecting value but are functional reading copies.