Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel First Edition
A first edition, first printing of Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton (Houghton Mifflin, 1939) is worth about $3,312 unsigned in near fine condition, and up to $16,664 signed, based on recorded sales. The first point to check: Title page: “1939” printed with the imprint Houghton Mifflin Company · Boston (The Riverside Press, Cambridge).
Market value · Unsigned, near fine
$3,312
Valued from 1 recorded sales in the last 12 months.
What a copy is worth
| Condition | Unsigned | Signed | Inscribed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine | $3,809 | $16,664 | $16,664 |
| Near fine | $3,312 | $14,490 | $14,490 |
| Very good | $2,815 | $12,317 | $12,317 |
| Good | $2,535 | $11,086 | $11,086 |
How to identify this edition
These points tell this edition apart from other printings and editions of Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel.
✓ Title page: “1939” printed with the imprint Houghton Mifflin Company · Boston (The Riverside Press, Cambridge)
✓ Copyright page: Copyright 1939, no later printing mentioned
✓ Dust jacket: red front with Mike and Mary Anne bursting through, yellow spine lettered “H. M. CO.”, Choo Choo advertised on the rear flap
✓ Price: $1.50 on the front flap (first-issue jacket)
✓ Binding: oblong quarto, gray-tan cloth with red and black picture of the steam shovel on the front
Not sure which printing you have, or what it is worth? How much is my book worth? Printing, dust jacket, condition and signature, explained.
Common questions
- How do I know if my copy of Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel is a first edition, first printing?
- ✓ Title page: “1939” printed with the imprint Houghton Mifflin Company · Boston (The Riverside Press, Cambridge) ✓ Copyright page: Copyright 1939, no later printing mentioned ✓ Dust jacket: red front with Mike and Mary Anne bursting through, yellow spine lettered “H. M. CO.”, Choo Choo advertised on the rear flap ✓ Price: $1.50 on the front flap (first-issue jacket) ✓ Binding: oblong quarto, gray-tan cloth with red… The identification points above show each one.
- How much is a first edition, first printing of Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel worth?
- $2,535–$3,809 unsigned, up to $16,664 signed, depending on condition and whether it is signed (values as of November 2026). Values come from recorded sales of this exact printing, not asking prices.
- Is a signed first edition, first printing of Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel worth more?
- Yes. In near fine condition a copy signed by Virginia Lee Burton is valued at about $14,490, against $3,312 unsigned. A signature should be verified before you rely on that figure.
- Can I sell my copy of Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel?
- Yes. We value the exact copy from recorded sales and make a firm cash offer, free and with no obligation to sell.
Selling a copy?
We value the exact copy from recorded sales and make a firm cash offer, free and with no obligation. Get an offer.
More by Virginia Lee Burton
- The Little House — Virginia Lee Burton · First edition, first printing · $6,468