First Edition Identification

Although it seems like it should be fairly straight forward, there is so much to know about first identification that whole books and websites are devoted to the subject. Here we will give you some basic tools to help you identify your first edition, but if would like more in-depth information, we recommend Collected Books by Allen and Patricia Ahearn or First Edition Points website.rnrnFirst edition identification would be an easy task if there were only one publishing house and they remained consistent in their printing methods over the years, but alas this is far from the case. Over the years there have been thousands of publishers, each using various methods for distinguishing a first edition.rnrnBooks published prior to around 1900 are somewhat more easily identified, as publishers generally put the date on the title page of the first edition, although sometimes it can be found on the last page of the book. For more modern books, however, there began to be a trend towards putting this information on the copyright page instead. Publishers began to make statements such as “First Edition”, “First Printing”, “Published” or “First Published (followed by the year or month and year)rnrnThen, in the last fifty years or so (but beginning as early as the 1940’s), in general, most publishers began to use some version of a number line (also referred to as a printer’s key or publisher’s code) on the copyright page, with a first printing indicated by the presence of the number 1. The following are some adaptations of number lines, all of which are first printings:rnrn“1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10″rn“10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1″rn“1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2″rnrnu003cstrongu003eLet us take a moment here to tell you that any book that you purchase from Raptis Rare Books will be a first printing unless we state otherwise. This is very important, because you can be guaranteed that you are purchasing the book you want.u003c/strongu003e It is unfortunate, but many sites selling collectible books state that their books are first editions, but when they arrive, they are later printings. Some publishers state ‘first edition’ on the copyright page even for later printings, so you must be aware of this as the buyer of a collectible book. For example, a copyright page that states:rnrnFirst editionrnrn4,5,6,7,8,9,10rnrnis a fourth printing… not a first. It may even say ‘first printing’, such as the example below:rnrnFirst printingrnrn10 9 8 7 6 5 4 90 89 87 86rnrnThis, however, is again, a fourth printing, published in 1986.rnrnu003cstrongu003eThe notable exception to the basic number line is Random House, who, starting in the 1970’s up until the year 2003, indicated a first printing with the statement “First Edition” and a number line beginning with 2.u003c/strongu003e

The following are the methods used by some of the larger or more famous publishing houses. Overall these are general rules and there may occasionally be an exception.rnrnu003cstrongu003eAtheneum –u003c/strongu003e States first edition on the copyright page and began using a number line in the mid 1980’srnrnu003cstrongu003eBallantine Books –u003c/strongu003e Hardcover books state “First edition (Month ,Year)” or “First printing (Month, Year)” and paperback originals have no statement on the copyright page, but later printings are noted.rnrnu003cstrongu003eBobbs-Merrill –u003c/strongu003e Sometimes used a bow and arrow design on the copyright page first editions prior to the 1920’s. After the 1920’s, they usually state “First edition” or “First Printing”.rnrnu003cstrongu003eD. Appleton u0026amp; Co.u003c/strongu003e = Occasionally used a ‘first edition’ statement, but most often used a numerical identification, in parentheses or brackets, at the foot of the last page: “(1)” for first printing, “(2)” for second printing, etc.rnrnu003cstrongu003eDelacorte Press –u003c/strongu003e Previously stated “First printing” or “First American Printing”. Now uses a number line.rnrnu003cstrongu003eDial Press –u003c/strongu003e Prior to the mid 1960’s, first printings can be identified by the same date on the title and copyright page, although they do also occasionally state “First printing”. In the late 1960’s, they began stating “First Printing (Year)” and noting later printings. They currently use a number line.rnrnu003cstrongu003eDoubleday u0026amp; Co.u003c/strongu003e – States “First edition” on copyright page, with no statement on later printings.rnrnu003cstrongu003eFaber u0026amp; Faber, Ltd.u003c/strongu003e – States “First Published (Month, Year) or (Year)” on the copyright page and notes later printings. Prior to 1968, the year of publication was in Roman numerals.rnrnu003cstrongu003eFarrar, Straus, u0026amp; Giroux –u003c/strongu003e States either “First published, “First printing”, or “First edition” and Year on the copyright page.rnrnu003cstrongu003eGnome Press –u003c/strongu003e States “First Edition” on copyright page, but may have occasionally left “First Edition” statement of original publisher on offset reprints with their imprint.rnrnu003cstrongu003eGollancz (Victor Gollancz, Ltd.) –u003c/strongu003e In 1984, began stating “First published in (Year)” on the copyright page of first editions. Previously, no statement had been made on first editions, but later printings were noted.rnrnu003cstrongu003eGrove Press –u003c/strongu003e First editions and later printings are always noted on the copyright page. Currently uses a number line. Later-printing dust jackets are identified by a small letter code on the rear panel (ie. “ii” for second printing).rnrnu003cstrongu003eHarcourt –u003c/strongu003e From 1919-1921 (called Harcourt, Brace, and Howe), usually placed the number 1 on the copyright page for first printings, 2 for second printings etc.. From 1921-1960 (called Harcourt, Brace, u0026amp; Co.), they did not state first printings. In about 1931 they started putting “First Edition or “First American Edition” on the copyright page. Occasionally, through the 1940’s, they would use a “1” on the first printing. From 1960-1970 (called Harcourt, Brace, u0026amp; World), they continued to state “First edition” or “First American edition”. From 1970 on (called Harcourt Brace Jovanovich), they continued this practice or placed “First Edition/ ABCDE” on the copyright page of firsts except during the years 73-83, when they did not use “A” but instead used “First Edition/BCDE”.rnrnAre you confused yet? Wait… it gets better…. (or should we say more confusing?)rnrnu003cstrongu003eHarper (Harper u0026amp; Brothers) –u003c/strongu003e Prior to 1912, the date on the title page should match the last date on the copyright page. In 1912, they began including a letter code for the month and year the book was printed, which would actually be earlier than the official publication date. For the months, A= January, B= February, C=March, D= April, E= May, F= June, G= July, H= August, I= September, K= October, L= November, M= December (They skipped the letter J in both the month and year just to make it extra confusing and then started with the letter M just to mess with your head)

In 1922, they began stating “First Edition” as well, but also used the above coding system until 1949. In 1962, they became u003cstrongu003eHarper and Row.u003c/strongu003e They began to use a number line to the bottom of the last page but often failed to remove the “First Edition” statement from later printings. In 1975, they began using a number line on the copyright page… again often failing to remove the “First Edition” statements from later printings. In 1990, they changed the name again to u003cstrongu003eHarper Collins,u003c/strongu003e but nothing changed regarding their first edition identification … including forgetting to remove the “First Edition” statements from later impressions.rnrnu003cstrongu003eHarvard University Press –u003c/strongu003e The year of publication is printed on the title page of first editions, whereas it is removed from later printings and a notice has been added to the copyright page. They began using a number row in the 1980’s.rnrnu003cstrongu003eHeinemann (William Heinemann) –u003c/strongu003e From 1890 to 1921, they placed the year of publication on the title page of first editions, removing it for later printings and adding a notice on the copyright page. In the 1920’s, they began stating “First published (Year) or First published in Great Britain (Year) on the copyright page of first editions and continued to note later printings.rnrnu003cstrongu003eHolt, Rinehart u0026amp; Winston –u003c/strongu003e Before the 1970’s, most often used a first edition statement and after the 1970’s, a first edition statement and a number line.rnrnu003cstrongu003eHoughton, Mifflin –u003c/strongu003e Usually puts the date in Arabic numerals on the title page of first printings and removes it from later printings. In the 1950’s they also began adding a “First printing” statement on the copyright page, which they later replaced with a number line in the 1970’s.rnrnu003cstrongu003eJonathan Cape –u003c/strongu003e “First published (Year)” or “First published in Great Britain (Year)” statement on the copyright page of first editions, with later printings noted.rnrnu003cstrongu003eKnopf (Alfred A. Knopf) –u003c/strongu003e Until around 1934, they sometimes stated “Published (Year or Month and Year)” on the copyright page of first editions, with later printings noted. After that time, they have consistently stated “First Edition” (with the exception of some children’s books). Books with “First and second printings before publication” are second printings.rnrnu003cstrongu003eJ.B. Lippincott –u003c/strongu003e Starting in about 1925, they sometimes included first edition statements on the copyright page but always indicated later printings. In the mid 70’s, they added a number line.rnrnu003cstrongu003eLittle, Brown –u003c/strongu003e Before the early 1930’s, there is no first edition statement, but later printings are noted. In the 1930’s began stating “Published (Month) (Year)” on the first edition copyright page. In 1940, started stating “First Edition” or “First Printing” and then added a number line in the late 1970’s.rnrnu003cstrongu003eMacmillan Co. –u003c/strongu003e (U.S.) In 1936, began stating “First printing” on the copyright page. In the 1970’s they added a number line. (U.K.) In the mid 1920’s, they began to state “First Published (Year)” on the copyright of first editions, with later printings noted.rnrnu003cstrongu003eMcGraw-Hill –u003c/strongu003e Began using a first edition statement in 1956.rnrnu003cstrongu003eModern Library –u003c/strongu003e Reprint series acquired by Random House from Boni u0026amp; Liveright in 1925, at which time they began stating “First Modern Library Edition” on the copyright page of the first edition. Occasionally, they accidentally left the first edition statement on later printings.rnrnu003cstrongu003eOxford University Press –u003c/strongu003e Until the late 1980’s, there was no first edition statement, however, later printings were noted.rnrnu003cstrongu003ePantheon Books, Inc. –u003c/strongu003e In 1964, began stating “First Edition”, along with later printings being noted. They started using a number line, as well in the late 1980’s.rnrnu003cstrongu003eRandom House –u003c/strongu003e States “First Edition” on the first printing, but does not indicate subsequent printings. In the 1970’s, they added a number row beginning with the number 2 and removed the first edition statement from later printings.rnrnu003cstrongu003eScribners –u003c/strongu003e Until 1930, the Scribners seal and date of publication (Month and Year) appeared on first editions, with later printings usually noted (although not always). After 1930, they used an “A” on the copyright page to denote the first edition along with the seal or with a code representing the month and year of publication and the book’s manufacturer. Later printings were either not noted or indicated with a “B”, “C”, etc. In the 1970’s, they added a number line, which also includes a letter code for the manufacturer and type of binding.rnrnu003cstrongu003eScholastic Press -u003c/strongu003e For collectors of American editions of books such as the Harry Potter series or the Hunger Games trilogy, here is information on identifying your edition.rnrnFor print information there should be numbers like these on the copyright page:rn10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 6 7 8 9 0/0rnrnThe numbers on the left indicate the printing (i.e. 1st printing, 2nd printing, 3rd printing, etc).rnSo, a second printing would look like this: 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2rnA third printing like this: 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3rnAnd a fourth printing like this: 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4rnrnThe numbers on the right indicate the year the book is being printed. Reprints happen over a period of years. So the numbers above would indicate a 1996 printing.rn7 8 9 0/0 . . .would indicate 1997rn8 9 0/0 . . .is 1998rn9 0/0 . . .is 1999, etc.rnrnu003cstrongu003eSecker u0026amp; Warburg –u003c/strongu003e In the 1940’s, they began stating “First published in (Year)” on the copyright page of first editions and noting later printings (which they also did prior to the 1940’s)rnrnu003cstrongu003eSimon u0026amp; Schuster –u003c/strongu003e In 1952, they began using a first edition statement and in the 1970’s, a number line. They have always noted later printings (occasionally with symbols).rnrnu003cstrongu003eVanguard –u003c/strongu003e No first edition statement and sometimes failed to note later printings. In the 1970’s, they started using a number row, although some titles in the mid 80’s are missing this.rnrnu003cstrongu003eViking Press –u003c/strongu003e In 1937, they began stating “First Published by Viking in (Year)” or “Published by Viking in (Year) on first editions and noted later printings. In the 1980’s, they added a number line only to later printings.rnrnu003cstrongu003eWiley (John Wiley u0026amp; Sons) –u003c/strongu003e Prior to 1969, no first edition statements but subsequent printings are noted. Since 1969, they have used a number line.rnrnu003cstrongu003eWilliam Morrow –u003c/strongu003e Before 1973, they usually placed “First Printing (Month, Year)” on the copyright page, and always indicated later printings. After 1973, they began to use a number line and sometimes a first edition statement (which they occasionally failed to remove from later printings).