This is in progress as of 16 jul 2018 in short, you are much more likely to. How to identify first editions or a first printing of a book. If your copy is a 3rd printing, or a book club edition, it wont have the same value as a first edition. Seuss books presented, the first edition book can be identified without the dust jackets. In this example, the lowest number is 1, so i have a first edition, first printing. The first edition refers to a book s first printing run. This book is the rare and highly desirable first edition of the great gatsby. On the other hand, if substantial changes are made to the book after its first printing. So if you ask the printer to print 10,000 copies of a book and then you sell them all and go back and ask for another 7,500 copies, the first 10,000 copies was the first printing. Fine collectable copies of the lord of the rings by j. A first printing has to be a 1st edition, but a 1st edition may not even be close to a 1st printing. I have a signed first edition 4th printing paperback with the errors printing.
Abebooks explains how to identify a first edition book. Works publishing company, april 1939, hardcover 400pp. How to identify first editions book collecting guide. However, book collectors generally use the term first edition to mean specifically the first print run. She wondered, how much new material is needed for a second edition of a book. For publishers, first edition may just mean the first version of the text, without significant revisions. In the world of book collecting, a first edition is generally considered to be the first appearance of a work, in its first printing. We venture to say that no other piece of terminology has caused so much contention among booksellers and collectors as that of first edition. As photographers, much time and energy has been spent creating your image, from capturing it in your camera to creating your masterpiece. There is no better way to connect with the story and the author than by owning a book signed by an author. This is a sixvolume british first edition, first printing set of winston churchills history of the first world war in which he played such a critical, controversial, and varied role.
Generally speaking, a first printing will have the same isbn as all subsequent printings, unless the book changes publishers, formats, or is reissued with some hoopla. To identify what printing you have, look for the lowest number in the string. How to tell if you have a harry potter first edition. The abaa glossary is a master of understatement when it says every printed book has a first edition, many never have later editions. Villard is a division of random house which denotes a first edition 1st printing by stating first edition below the number line 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3. With few exceptions, collectors are seeking the first edition, first printing of a book.
Edition and printing can be used fairly interchangeably in talking about collectible books, especially in regard to modern fiction. Also, why the difference is price between these two listings for the same title. The best site on the net for info on rare stephen king books. Includes identificaton criteria and points of issue to help collectors identify the original book. In nearly all cases, the book is also the first edition first printing. The first edition refers to a books first printing run. At first this can become somewhat confusing because when a book becomes very popular and is often reprinted many times over a number of years with different publishers resulting in several first editions. This is sellers stated information about their respective copies. This is a first edition first printing, first published in 1977. This is a great opportunity for anyone with a limited budget to own a big red book.
If the publisher prints more copies of the identical book, those are not first editions. 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. Remember that even if the lowest number is 2, 3, or whatever, if the publisher is still. First edition book of mormon history moons rare books. Those questions and more answered in this potter collector book. If it is the second printing then the 1 is removed, meaning that the lowest number seen will be 2. Some serious collectors will stop at nothing to track down the most rare and valuable first editions of classic, renowned works.
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. Numbers are removed with subsequent printings, so if 1 is seen then the book is the first printing of that edition. The first printing is also what book collectors call a first edition. That means that there are literally millions of copies of the book that can technically be referred to as first editions.
Alcoholics anonymous first edition first printings 1939. They started using a number line, as well in the late 1980s. But determining whether or not a modern book published in the 19th or 20th century post the invention of the printing press is in fact a true first edition book, in its most original form, can be a confusing and timeconsuming process. For some blockbuster titles, this can be as many as 50,000 copies or more. 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. Nov 08, 2012 the string of numbers can be descending, as it is here, ascending, or in totally random order. Number lines have been commonly used in the postworld war ii era. We specialize exclusively in the wizard of oz books series. First edition copies state first edition on the page and the number sequence will be 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3.
In publishing terms, an edition is technically all copies of a book that were printed from the same setting of type and the book is only described as a second edition if substantial changes are made to the copy. The world crisis, full set of six british first edition. The publisher may actually state the words first edition or first printing on the page. First edition screenprinting is an allinone, easytoorder custom and stock transfer screenprinting company based in kansas.
Abebooks explains how to identify a first edition book youtube. The book collectors definition is the first printing of the first edition. With over 20 years serving oz collectors, we had an opportunity to obtain a large collection of oz books and memorabilia. 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. How to tell if a book is a first edition or valuable book riot. Subsequent printings would be, for example, a 2nd printing but not a first edition. While technically true, this is quibbling with terms a bit. 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. So if you ask the printer to print 10,000 copies of a book and then you sell them all and go back and ask for another 7,500 copies, the first 10,000. Alcoholics anonymous first edition, first printing 1939 big book with new reproduction dust jacket. These reprints are truly godsent as its virtually impossible to find an affordable copy of the original 1e phb in pristine condition. At the bottom of the page, you can see that it is a first printing. It is the first edition, first printing of the paperback in the u.
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. Another common method of identification is the number line thats. To a book collector the phrase first edition refers to a book that was released during the first printing of the first edition they call this book a 1st1st. In collecting terms, a general definition of 1st edition book would be a works first commercially available appearance in book. Firstly its important to establish what actually constitutes a harry potter first edition. The book is only described as a second edition if significant changes are made to the copy. The first commercial print run of a novel is called the first printing of the first edition. Unless the author or publishers makes changes to the text, adds something like an appendix or authors note, or revises the text, there is only one edition from format to format. I worked in a bookshop when the first harry potter book came out john smith and sons, glasgow where jk rowling did her first book signing. The childrens picturebook price guide includes first edition identification points for twentynine of the books in the list click on the book s title to see first edition identification points for a particular book. May have occasionally stated first edition, but in general, the absence of a later printing statement indicates a first edition. First edition, first printing is usually the only edition.
According to the definition of edition above, a book printed today, by the same publisher, and from the same type as when it was first published, is still the first edition of that book to a bibliographer. For example moving pictures had had many editions by 1997 by corgi, the us publishers, even some foreign language editions. The first time a publisher releases a new book, all copies of that book printed without major changes can be considered a first edition book. Many authors wonder, whats the difference between a revised edition and a new edition of a book. The numeral 1 will be removed for a second printing.
In publishing terms, a first edition book is all copies that were printed from the same setting of type as when first published. Alcoholics anonymous first edition, first printing 1939 big book. No matter where you are in the creative process for custom transfers, starter art, or stock transfers, our staff can help get you the sharp product you are looking for. Additionally, there are millions of book club editions in print. A hardcover book published in 1958 by viking isnt the same as a reprint published by penguin in 1963.
Big book is in very good condition with light wear to spine gold gilding strong on front and spine. However, book collectors generally use the term first edition to mean specifically the first print run of the first edition aka first. The beginners guide to identifying first editions book riot. Our collection of first edition oz books exceeds all of the antique book. 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. What we do at first edition print our goal is to take the art you create out of the digital world and bring it to the tangible world of giclee printing. How can you tell if my book is a book club edition. The printers key, also known as the number line, is a line of text printed on the page. But for older books, or books originally published by small imprints, the first run may have been as few as 100 copies. If it gets revised, updated, corrected, or changed in any way, then its a new edition. When the supply of the first printing or impression runs low, and the publisher needs more copies a second printing is done. How much new material is needed for a second edition of a book. Oct 03, 2019 even lower, and the book says first u.
What are your harry potter bloomsbury edition books worth. Random house states first edition on the first printing, but does not indicate subsequent printings. The first edition continues until the book is changed. A new version of the book is then typeset, which becomes the second edition. The estimated values in the table are for first edition books with dust jackets. But for older books, or books originally published by small. In collecting terms, a general definition of 1st edition book would be a works first commercially available appearance in book form, printed with the original setting of type. 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. Whats the difference between a first edition and a first printing. In the 1970s, they added a number row beginning with the number 2 and removed. This is not really my area, but an edition of a text can go through many printings, sometimes with decades or even centuries between them. Trim size is given because book club editions are often smaller than trade editions. Identifying first editions the new antiquarian the blog.
For a small press, this might be the only printing a book gets, so all copies are first edition, first printings. In collecting terms, a general definition of 1st edition book would be a works first commercially available appearance in book form, printed with the original setting. A first edition book can have multiple printings if the first printing sells out. A popular book may have had dozens of additional printings causing its first printing. All following statements 1976, 1981, and 1988 are essentially the same. The statement second printing before publication really just means that the book is a second printing. How to tell if a book is a first edition or valuable.
Sometimes you may have 1st printings by different publishers i,e. To publishers, a first edition is the first version of a book before changes are made forewords added, afterwords added, typos corrected, whatever requires a new typeset. If that first group sells out then another batch of books. Collectors distinguish between a first edition the first printing of a book and a modern first edition which moreorless applies to books printed.
The shining quickly became a benchmark in the literary career of stephen king. Contains all the correct marking for a first edition first printing. Since theyre so plentiful, supply will remain high, and the prices will likely remain low. Once you have some level of confidence that your book is a first edition, you may be faced with a question of state. In 1964, began stating first edition, along with later printings being noted.
Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. Pictures of the true first edition of harry potter and the sorcerers stone u. In the rare book world, is there a difference between a first edition and a first printing. Can a first edition of a book be identified by its isbn. First edition 24689753, to first editions, and removed the first edition statement from subsequent printings e. Heidi the shirley temple edition first printing johanna spyri on.
Jun 14, 2018 for the first edition of the book of mormon, joseph smith jr. This book has been professionally rebound the out side boards have been replaced most likely early in the 1980s. The polar express first edition, first printing chris van allsburg, chris van allsburg on. As the book series grew in popularity the later books were printed by the millions even on the first print run, so for the final books in the series first. If not, the fact that its a first edition doesnt matter. Alcoholics anonymous first edition first printings 1939 for sale. How to tell if you have a harry potter first edition set. First printing, first impression, and first published are other ways of publishers stating the first edition. Identifying and collecting first editions shop for books. As weve mentioned elsewhere, first edition means the first printing of a book. Identifying first editions the new antiquarian the blog of the.
Lately, first edition has become widely accepted tto mean first edition, first printing when buying or selling books although, technically speaking, it shouldnt be. For the film, tv and opera adaptations, seethe great gatsby disambiguation. My intuition tells me that the first printing of certain editions may be the most valuable, since the first printing would of course be the oldest. First edition means the book has the same content as the first time the book ever saw print. If you find that the date on a book s page matches the date on. To shed a little more light, the first time a publisher releases a new book all copies of that book that are printed without major changes can be considered a first edition. However, for a first edition to have value, there must be a demand for it. This is how the printers key will appear in the first print run of a book. Book collectors tend to define first edition as the first printing of the first edition. At first this can become somewhat confusing because when a book becomes very popular and is often reprinted many times over a number. In a couple of cases, the book is the first edition first or early printing.
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. Im just getting into the osr movement, and im already obsessed with collecting the 1st edition books. When only minor changes are made such as fixing typos, the new printing would be considered a reprint. Some books are published in such huge quantities that first editions are very common. Identifying, and valuing first edition dr seuss books. On the way back, gatsbys car strikes and kills toms mistress, myrtle. The first edition was published in 1997 by villard. Some books are published in such huge quantities that first. The first printing is the first batch of books printed from this first setting of type.
As photographers, much time and energy has been spent. Because so many versions of the book came before this copy, it likely wont be worth a lot of money. The first edition can be identified by the following criteria. If a book is a first edition it will carry the notice first publishedfirst published in great britian 19if it is a reprint or a second or subsequent edition the original notice will be followed by reprinted 19 or second edition 19 as appropriate. 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. The first edition of gone with the wind has been reprinted over 100 times since it was first published. General guidelines for identifying a first edition number lines. Also publishers are not going to detail the full printing history of their books. Signed books by the author author signed books are a passion of the fan, reader and book collector.
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