Collectors tend to value the edition of the book published in the authors native country. 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. However, book collectors generally use the term first edition to mean specifically the first print run of the first edition aka first. Whats the difference between a first edition and a first printing. These terms refer to the first printing of a book in a country where it was not originally published. Also publishers are not going to detail the full printing history of their books. Publishers each have their own way of identifying the first edition or more correctly first printing of any book they produce. Once you have some level of confidence that your book is a first edition, you may be faced with a question of state. Strictly speaking, a book s edition refers to the setting of the text. Frequently asked questions what is a first edition. The beginners guide to identifying first editions book riot.
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. Though first usuk editions are collectible, the true first edition is almost always the most desirable. What are your harry potter bloomsbury edition books worth. Lately, first edition has become widely accepted tto mean first edition, first printing when buying or selling books. This makes sense because you have to print a book before you can release it to the public, and. 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 the publisher sells out of the first run and goes back for another printing, that second printing is not considered true first editions, even if the page says it is. Collectors would use the term for the first printing only.
Bauman rare books first editions, signed and inscribed rare. 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. In this series we will be discussing much of the history surrounding the first edition big book. As photographers, much time and energy has been spent creating your image, from capturing it in your camera to creating your masterpiece. 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. This rare first edition of stephen kings first published novel is a musthave for any collector of kings works. Those questions and more answered in this potter collector book. 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.
Numbers are removed with subsequent printings, so if 1 is seen then the book is the first printing of that edition. It could have been preceded by special editions, limited editions, serialized in magazines, etc. The type is the same as the 1951 first printing, therefore all hardcover copies are, for the bibliographer, the first edition. Well, glenn larsens guide to first editions was one of the first internet documents i ran across about first editions and book. But for older books, or books originally published by small imprints, the first run may have been as few as 100 copies. 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. New listing harry potter and the goblet of fire first print first edition hardcover book. Printing facilities numbers appearing on deathly hallows books are 12, 23, 37, 40, plus others.
The first batch is the first printing, the second batch is the second printing, the third batch is the third printing. How to identify a first printing or first edition this is for private use only last update 7. An edition includes all copies printed from the same plates or setting of type without substantial change. If a book form edition limited, whatever preceded the 1st trade, then that earlier edition would be deemed the true first. Identifying first editions the new antiquarian the blog. For the purposes of modern collectibles, an edition is a completely different presentation of the same work, as in the paper back edition vs. First edition screenprinting is an allinone, easytoorder custom and stock transfer screenprinting company based in kansas.
Mar 20, 2018 whats the difference between a first edition and a first printing. Often, both of those books may be released for sale at more or less the exact same moment. Includes identificaton criteria and points of issue to help collectors identify the original book. Due to the rarity of first edition copies, and the fact that nobody expected anything different there, decades worth of scholarship missed the fact that the v. First edition, first printing is usually the only edition to really care about. The value of the book to a collector will depend on its rarity. 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. So a printing before publication does not mean was printed before 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.
Fedpo first edition frequently asked questions what is a. The first printing is also what book collectors call a first edition. Some books are issued by the publisher in two forms. This little book lists most publishers and uses a simplified code system based on the authors experience handling actual first. When we say first edition we are really referring to the first printing of the first edition. The basic knowledge is first edition, first printing in uk publishing is the same thing. Putnam may print the first us edition of that same book.
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. May 03, 2017 but, as my second paragraph says, book collectors agree that the words first edition shall describe only the first impression of the first edition and this does not include your book. The first edition continues until the book is changed. This is the 1st printing of the aa big book of which there were only 4,650 to 4,670 copies printed, far fewer than the ensuing printings that included 20,000 for the 8th and 9th printings, 25,000 for the 10th and 11th printing, 42,350 for the 12th printing, 50,000 for the th printing and 49,800 for the 14th printing. Alcoholics anonymous 1st edition 1st printing 1939 dj aa.
Pocket guide to the identification of first editions sixth edition bill mcbride. At first this can become somewhat confusing because when a book. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. It just means that it was printed before the date when it was released and distributed to the public. For us normal mortals i think that youd be fine thinking of the book as a first edition.
The first printing of the first edition was published in april of 1939, followed by 15 more printings up until the release of the 2nd edition in 1955. Can a first edition of a book be identified by its isbn. Its true that a first edition may have one or more printings and that a second edition will normally be noted only if there are actual changes, usually major, in the text. First edition, first printing is usually the only edition. This is how the printers key will appear in the first print run of a book. First edition collectible books buy first edition books. What is the difference between a printing and an edition. Abebooks explains how 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.
Formally cornhusker press, first edition printing has been committed to provide our customers with the highest quality of service and the best affordable prices to compete with anyone in the metro area. There are thousands of publishers and they use a large variety of methods, which are often changed, to define first editions. For the purposes of modern collectible books, first edition is shorthand for 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.
In the world of book collecting, a first edition is generally considered to be the first appearance of a work, in its first printing. Feb 09, 2020 we are bringing to you a series about the alcoholics anonymous basic text. When a new book comes out for the first time, thats the first printing of the first edition. For some blockbuster titles, this can be as many as 50,000 copies or more.
Generally speaking, a first printing will have the same isbn as all subsequent printings, unless the book. If you are among the few who happen to have a first printing first edition of the uk edition of the first book, which was called, harry potter and the philosophers stone, you really have a treasure. Edition and printing can be used fairly interchangeably in talking about collectible books, especially in regard to modern fiction. The first edition refers to a book s first printing run. More people own the first print, and more total value is placed on those first.
If the publisher prints more copies of the identical book, those are not first editions. In the simplest terms, a first edition is the first commercially distributed version of a book. You will also notice in the above picture the phrase printed in the u. This can be seen from the all important number line at the bottom of the print details page. Subsequent printings would be, for example, a 2nd printing but not a first edition.
The book collectors definition is the first printing of the first edition. 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. Harry potter and the sorcerers stone first edition first printing. Research and identify a first printing, first edition by publisher. The first printing is the first batch of books printed from this first setting of type. How to identify first editions or a first printing of harry. The statement second printing before publication really just means that the book is a second printing. 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. Publishers print books in large batches called printings. 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. Research how to identify a first printing or 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. 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.
The publisher may actually state the words first edition or first printing on the page. How to identify first editions or a first printing of a book. Jan 12, 2011 an edition may include a new forward or, as stephanie fysh noted, a thorough revision. Edition refers the form in which the book is issued. For example moving pictures had had many editions by 1997 by corgi, the us publishers, even some foreign language editions.
For a small press, this might be the only printing a book gets, so all copies are first edition, first printings. But for a collector, a first printing is the only true first edition. Carrie is the book that launched his phenomenal career. What is the difference between a printing and an edition if. Lately, first edition has become widely accepted tto mean first edition, first printing when buying or selling books although, technically speaking, it shouldnt be. First edition printing has been serving omaha since 1937. When the supply of the first printing or impression runs low, and the publisher needs more copies a second printing is done. Terry brooks 1st edition books for sale in stock ebay. As weve mentioned elsewhere, first edition means the first printing of a book. The second print might be worth double the first print per book, but the total dollars in the market still favors the first printing. A new version of the book is then typeset, which becomes the second edition. Fedpo first edition frequently asked questions publication.
One factor that truly makes a book rare, valuable, and the apple of a collectors eye is the combination of a first edition and a first book that is, the first printing of an authors first. First printing means its the first time that edition has been published. How to identify first editions book collecting guide. How to identify first editions or a first printing of. May have occasionally stated first edition, but in general, the absence of a later printing statement indicates a 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. Often, a new edition of a book is released 10 or 15 years or later after the original publication. Another problem that can face buyers is the listing of a book as first edition when it may not be a true first. 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. The first edition consists of all the copies printed from the first setting of type. Nov 08, 2012 however, to most booksellers and collectors, a true first edition is both the first typeset version of the book and the first printing. The first edition is the first edition printing of the first edition, but sometimes books go through multiple editions. How to tell if a book is a first edition or valuable. This is a ballantine first edition produced to go with the 1965 first official paperback edition of lord of.
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. An edition may include a new forward or, as stephanie fysh noted, a thorough revision. The wild, macabre tale of two men one looking for something he has lost, the other with nothing much to lose and v. Pictures of the true first edition of harry potter and the sorcerers stone u. Bauman rare books first editions, signed and inscribed. First edition 1963 of what many consider to be the finest american novel of the 20th century. If it is the second printing then the 1 is removed, meaning that the lowest number seen will be 2. Tolkien, the hobbit first printing august 1965 with.
If you use the same setup of text and print it again, that would be the second printing a printing is therefore. This book was published before 1973 so it has no isbn number. Wikipedia has a great explanation of what first edition and first printing means. 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. No matter where you are in the creative process for.