This book video will show you how to know if you have a first edition book. How to identify a first edition book from a reprint at bookseller world. Sometimes publishers include the words first edition next to the number line, even if the book was on its third printing, according abe books website. A first edition is the first published separate edition of a story, novel, poem, or any work of nonfiction in. Many publishers will print the hardcover edition of a book and call that a first edition, then print the same text in paperback and call it a first edition as well. If the words first printing fp, first impression fi or first edition fe are on there somewhere, then this is a good. Its core members were kenny rogers lead vocals and bass guitar, mickey jones drums and. The first edition, first printing of a book is the very first time the book is printed, obviously. The majority of booksellers and collectors want the true first edition the edition of the book that supersedes all other editions chronologically and sometimes detective work is required to identify the true first.
The first printing is the first batch of books printed from this first setting of type. At the bottom of the page, you can see that it is a first printing. Our guide to first edition books will help you to identify a first edition and can find. Subsequent printings would be, for example, a 2nd printing but not a first edition. Some publishers start the number line at 2, with 1 being the first edition. Madeline is saved from drowning by a dog who then returns with the girls and miss clavel.
Sometimes we catch typos or readers will catch typos with the first printing of the book. Jun 14, 2018 for the first edition of the book of mormon, joseph smith jr. When the supply of the first printing or impression runs low, and the publisher needs more copies a second printing is done. If its from a small press, which often run one printing of their books, youre sometimes safe assuming what you have is a first edition unless otherwise. There are a few methods you can use to determine the edition of a book but. First edition is really short for first edition, first printing.
In the case of titles published before 1900, the key to firstedition identification is often the date on the title page. For the second printing, the 1 is removed, so the 2 is the lowest number present. Wouldnt you know it, the dog will need the help of madeline and her friends very soon after. There are genuine issue points on some jackets that determine the printing of the book but the biggest potential problem is when later state wrappers find their way onto first edition books. Occasionally a number line will be accompanied by a date line.
Its core members were kenny rogers lead vocals and bass guitar, mickey jones drums and percussion and terry williams guitar and vocals. The first edition continues until the book is changed. The first printing is also what book collectors call a first edition. If that first group sells out then another batch of books is printed. If the first round of copies ran out, a second printing with the same typeset may have been released to meet consumer demand in which case the book would be considered a first edition, second printing. How can you tell if a comic is a first printing answers. The statement second printing before publication really just means that the book is a second printing.
Definitely not a first edition, let alone a first printing. Abebooks explains how to identify a first edition book youtube. First edition book of mormon history moons rare books. If it gets revised, updated, corrected, or changed in any way, then its a new edition. If the words first printing fp, first impression fi or first edition fe ar. So if you ask the printer to print 10,000 copies of a book and then you. First edition means the book has the same content as the first time the book ever saw print. Once you have some level of confidence that your book is a first edition, you may be faced with a question of state.
Who could possibly say anything negative about this fabulous find. Mar 19, 2018 hi, my name is laura ward, and ive been looking up about the first edition printing of the first harry potter book, harry potter and the philosophers stone, it has to have the dumbledore on the back cover with the brown beard, just inside the front cover it has to have the number 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1, and for the authors name it will. The first edition refers to a books first printing run. Using the 1830 bible as a guide, the first edition book of mormon was replicated to look the same so people of that time period would easily recognize it.
The words first edition and first printing are often used more or less interchangeably in the book world, though really they shouldnt be. All of the copies printed from the first setting of type. Usually, if a one is present in the line then its a first edition. I dont know if i agree with that and there doe seem to be a lot of arguments around the web because if it. If the initial print run of this first edition sells out and the publisher decides to produce a subsequent printing with the same typeset the book would be described as a first edition, second printing. If you use the same setup of text and print it again, that would be the second printinga printing is therefore. However, to most booksellers and collectors, a true first edition is both the first typeset version of the book and the first printing.
Spoon river anthology, first printing 1915 masters, edgar lee on. Collecting madeline the new antiquarian the blog of. Since first edition generally means the first printing of the first edition for modern works, a book described as a first edition, second printing might be a little confusing. Lately, first edition has become widely accepted tto mean first edition, first printing when buying or selling books although, technically speaking, it shouldnt be. However, book collectors generally use the term first edition to mean specifically the first print run of the first edition aka first edition, first impression.
Collecting, identifying, and valuing first edition. Identifying first editions the new antiquarian the blog. The pages would be more thick and a yellowish color. The only exception is when the bookseller does not know that an earlier printing or state of the book exists. A first printing in collectors terms means the first printing of the first edition, so that when you see those words your research may well be over. For a small press, this might be the only printing a book gets, so all copies are first edition, first printings. Remember that different publishers have their own criteria. For some blockbuster titles, this can be as many as 50,000 copies or more. A first edition book can have multiple printings if the first printing sells out. How to identify first editions or a first printing of a book.
A number 3 would indicate this first edition 3 4 5 6 7 8. First printings are collectible, so people do occasionally want to know if. But for older books, or books originally published by small imprints, the first run may have been as few as 100 copies. I cant tell whether these people are reading a first printing or a first edition from the state library of victoria. You may even have a harry potter first edition set.
As more runs are printed, the lowest number in the line will determine what. How can you tell if my book is a book club edition. We frequently get emails from people asking about first printings and first editions of books, and sometimes there seems to be some confusion about whether or. If you use the same setup of text and print it again, that. If the publisher sells out of the first run and goes back for another printing, that second printing is not considered true. How to tell if a book is a first edition or valuable book riot. How to tell if a comic book is a first, second, third or higher printing. The new batch will now will be labeled second printing of the first edition. If you dont know how to tell if a book is a first edition, we can help. If the publisher of the book has changed since it was first released, the edition. The publisher may actually state the words first edition or first printing on the page. Gone with the wind first edition points and identification.
Nov 08, 2012 so if a book has had more than one printing, how can you tell which one you have and therefore whether or not your edition is a true first. If a book shows no dates at all then the balance of probability suggests it more likely to be a later edition. Edition and printing can be used fairly interchangeably in talking about collectible books. Childrens books rare books and first editions bauman. On the other hand, if substantial changes are made to the book after its first printing. The presence of a date on the title page alone may identify books published prior to the mid1800s as first editions. But a first edition will only have one date of printing, with no earlier date listed. It went on to at least 100 more printings and is one of the bestsellers of all time. If your copy is a 3rd printing, or a book club edition, it wont have the same value as a first edition. How to tell if you have a harry potter first edition set and. With few exceptions, collectors are seeking the first edition, first printing of a book.
Looking for a way to tell if a book is a first edition. If the initial print run known as the first printing or first impression sells out and the publisher decides to produce a subsequent printing with the same typeset, books from that second print run can be described as a first edition, second printing. What i have learned is the general rule for telling if a comic is a first, second, third or higher printing. The basic tools you need to identify a first edition book. Well, glenn larsens guide to first editions was one of the first internet documents i ran across about first editions and book club editions and reprint publishers and other items in the.
Millions of new, used, rare, and outofprint books are offered for sale through the. A general rule is that if the number 1 is listed, the book is a first edition. How to tell if you have a harry potter first edition set. A hardcover book published in 1958 by viking isnt the same as a reprint published by penguin in 1963. After a few months, they may decide to reprint the book if its selling well and we get more orders for books. In the case of titles published before 1900, the key to first edition identification is often the date on the title page. For example, a number line that reads 5 6 7 8 9 indicates a fifth printing. How to tell if a book is first edition know the printing. If its a 1, then you probably have a first printing.
Oct 03, 2018 you may even have a harry potter first edition set. How to tell if you have a first edition copy of a book. Depending on demand, any number of printings can be made from a setting of type for example, a first printing might consist of copies, followed by a second printing of 2500 copies. The beginners guide to identifying first editions book riot. If there are two or more books described as a first edition, then a collector will. Its the first printing of the shirley temple edition of the classic heidi story by johanna spyri, heidi the shirley temple edition first printing, with photographs from her movie. We frequently get emails from people asking about first printings and first editions of books, and sometimes there seems to be some confusion about whether or not theyre the same. This can usually be determined by rudimentary checks though specialised bibliographies may need to be consulted book club editions. Heres how to tell if what youre reading is a first edition or not. The first commercial print run of a novel is called the first printing of the first edition.
Note how numbers can sometimes count up and sometimes count down. The abaa glossary is a master of understatement when it says every printed book has a first edition, many never have later editions. Since world war ii, books often include a number line printers key that indicates the print run. The majority of booksellers and collectors want the true first edition the edition of the book that supersedes all other editions chronologically and sometimes detective work is required to. If there are two or more books described as a first edition, then a collector will want to know which one is superior. Look a little lower and youll see that the first u. Collecting, identifying, and valuing first edition childrens. The first edition of gone with the wind by margaret mitchell was published in 1936 by the macmillan company in new york. Later, booksellers began to call this a first edition plus. The first edition refers to a book s first printing run. How to identify first editions book collecting guide.
Oct 03, 2019 for publishers, first edition may just mean the first version of the text, without significant revisions. If the publisher sells out of the first run and goes back for another printing, that second printing is not considered a true first edition, even if the page says it is. Over the years there have been thousands of publishers, each using various methods for distinguishing a first edition. Any printing that is of the original edition is first edition. In the collectible bookselling market, it must be clearly stated in the book s description if the book is a later printing or later state of the first edition. Strictly speaking, a books edition refers to the setting of the text. Oct 17, 2011 sometimes the number line is also accompanied by the words first edition, but be careful because some publishers leave on the words first edition even when the book is in its third printing. In the rare books trade, first printings of first editions are usually the most soughtafter, and the term first edition is often used to refer to the first printing of a first edition. Once you know what to look out for its worth keeping an eye out in charity shops and at car boot sales in case you come across a harry potter book or even a harry potter first edition set thats worth quite a bit of money. This can be seen from the all important number line at the bottom of the print details page. For example 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 indicates a first printing.
A new version of the book is then typeset, which becomes the second edition. Identifying first editions the new antiquarian the blog of the. How to tell if a book is a first edition or valuable. If the number line shows 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 then you have a first edition. How do you know if your gone with the wind book is a first edition first printing.
Hi, my name is laura ward, and ive been looking up about the first edition printing of the first harry potter book, harry potter and the philosophers stone, it has to have the dumbledore on the back cover with the brown beard, just inside the front cover it has to have the number 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1, and for the authors name it will. As weve mentioned elsewhere, first edition means the first printing of a book. Nov 07, 2006 first edition is really short for first edition, first printing. It won the pulitzer prize for fiction the next year. The oldest books have printings listed in front such as. So the first time you set the text and print a book with it, and then sell a bound book that youve just printed, thats the first edition, first printing. Feb 09, 2008 the first edition, first printing of a book is the very first time the book is printed, obviously. Sep 10, 2014 looking for a way to tell if a book is a first edition. First printing means its the first time that edition h. How to tell if you have a harry potter first edition.
Sometimes the number line is also accompanied by the words first edition, but be careful because some publishers leave on the words first edition even when the book is in its third printing. Edition and printing can be used fairly interchangeably in talking about collectible books, especially in regard to modern fiction. Over the years there have been thousands of publishers, each using various methods for distinguishing a. While technically true, this is quibbling with terms a bit. Also, if your number line started at 3 4 5, you would probably have a first edition, 3rd printing unless the book was published by one of the nonconforming presses. The vast majority of first editions published before 1900 had the year of publication on the title page this is true for fiction and nonfiction titles. Identify a first edition book guide to first editions millersmiles. For publishers, first edition may just mean the first version of the text, without significant revisions. It can be found inside the back cover near the spines lower right corner.
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