Identifying a First Edition Book
The president of Ridge Strategies, LLC, in New York, Krista Madaio has been involved in the fundraising sector for more than seven years. During that time, she has established a firm track record of exceeding fundraising goals. In her free time, Krista Madaio enjoys antiquing with her mother and sister, and searching from such things as antique cameras, kitchenware, and books.
In the world of antique and collectible books, first editions often command the highest prices. While some publishers mark certain books as a “first edition” on the copyright page, these words are not universally used. Further, many publishers will leave the first edition words on the copyright page, despite the book actually being a second or later edition.
To ensure a book is a first printing, it’s often better to look at the number line on the copyright page. Within a line sequence, whether it is listed in a random, ascending, or descending order, the lowest number indicates that book’s edition. When the number one is present in the number line, the book is a first edition. Even in situations when “first edition” is stated on the copyright page, the lowest number in the sequence must be one, otherwise it is not a real first edition.
Another way of checking the edition of a book is by looking at the dates listed on both the title page and copyright page. Usually, when the date on the title and copyright pages match, the book is a first edition. This is true whether the copyright page listed one date or multiple dates. In cases when multiple dates are listed, the latest date on the copyright page should match the date on the title page.
There are exceptions to these rules since publishers have different policies when it comes to marking a book as a first edition. For example, one publisher used the number two as their lowest number in a sequence to mark first editions from the 1970s to early 2000s. Still, this type of variation is rare and most publishers follow number line or date guidelines more strictly.
In the world of antique and collectible books, first editions often command the highest prices. While some publishers mark certain books as a “first edition” on the copyright page, these words are not universally used. Further, many publishers will leave the first edition words on the copyright page, despite the book actually being a second or later edition.
To ensure a book is a first printing, it’s often better to look at the number line on the copyright page. Within a line sequence, whether it is listed in a random, ascending, or descending order, the lowest number indicates that book’s edition. When the number one is present in the number line, the book is a first edition. Even in situations when “first edition” is stated on the copyright page, the lowest number in the sequence must be one, otherwise it is not a real first edition.
Another way of checking the edition of a book is by looking at the dates listed on both the title page and copyright page. Usually, when the date on the title and copyright pages match, the book is a first edition. This is true whether the copyright page listed one date or multiple dates. In cases when multiple dates are listed, the latest date on the copyright page should match the date on the title page.
There are exceptions to these rules since publishers have different policies when it comes to marking a book as a first edition. For example, one publisher used the number two as their lowest number in a sequence to mark first editions from the 1970s to early 2000s. Still, this type of variation is rare and most publishers follow number line or date guidelines more strictly.
