Sometimes two copies of a book will be similar enough to appear identical to a layperson, even though one copy was published first, and the other copies were printed some years later. The front cover won’t give you the answer; the best place to start is with the title page and copyright page. You’ll also want to pay attention to the number line, colophon, and publisher’s imprint. Often, the seller’s description doesn’t specify the edition or printing, leaving it to the collector to determine whether they are buying a first edition or a later printing.
Pull one book off your bookshelf. Open the book to the title page. Note the author, title, publisher, and place of publication. Now open the book to the copyright page. Look for an edition statement, printing statement, dates of publication, or a series of numbers running down the page. Take a photo of each page so you don’t have to keep opening the book to compare. This helps you develop your ability to distinguish between what is visibly true about a book and what you assume about its age, style, and condition.
The word “edition” means that the book was set with essentially the same type and text. Books can be printed multiple times within an edition. These separate printings are often called printings or impressions, although the terms are used inconsistently across countries, eras, and publishers. So, you might have a first edition with a first printing, a second printing, and third printing, etc. Just calling all of these first editions misses a key detail.
A reprint typically means a previously published work that is now published again, often under a different date, format, publisher, or series. While the content may be virtually identical, a reprint isn’t necessarily the original edition. Another option would be a revised edition, meaning the content has been altered to correct or update the previous version or a new edition, meaning the content has been edited, revised, and updated. If the publisher states “revised edition” or “new edition,” write that instead of just a vague term like “edition.”
Number lines can help you determine if you’re looking at a first printing or a subsequent printing. However, it’s important to read them correctly. A number line running from 10 to 1 suggests a first printing, as the last number in the sequence is 1. If the number line runs from 10 to 2, that means the 1 was eliminated, suggesting this is the second printing. But this rule can vary, as publishers may employ different methods or include dates, among other variables. Number lines should always be read in conjunction with other evidence, such as the edition statement, publication date, publisher information, and bibliographical resources.
Number lines weren’t always common, so older books may not have them. Instead, their printing status can be inferred from statements on the copyright page, dates on the title page, colophons on the rear endpaper, variations in the publisher’s name, and other characteristics. A dust jacket could provide clues as well, but jackets may be absent, from another book, or not a perfect match. Write down what you see and resist the urge to call it a first printing unless there’s actual evidence.
When preparing a listing, take a few minutes to ensure you’ve got the facts right. First, which edition was published? Second, which printing or impression? Third, do the title page and copyright page align with each other? Fourth, is there anything that needs further research? It’s much better to have a listing like “first edition, later printing, exact impression unknown” than to have a grandiose claim that the book itself can’t support.
