How to Tell If a Book Is a First Edition Printing

Determining Your Book's Edition

• 1

  Look at the dates listed on the copyright page. If more than one date is listed, the book is most likely a reprint. An exception would be if the material was copyrighted before the book was published, as with some short-story collections.

• 2

  Read the copyright page. Look for signs of a reprint, such as mentions of a "Second Printing" or references to other editions or publishers. A book that mentions only a "First Edition" may, in fact, be one.

• 3

  Look for a number line on the copyright page. This will be a series of numbers, generally between 10 and 1. The lowest number indicates the printing. A number line that reads "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1" indicates a first printing, whereas one that reads "10 9 8 7 6 5" indicates a fifth printing.

• 4

  Look for signs of material written after the book's first publishing. Reviews printed inside the book or on the dust jacket may indicate a reprint. Likewise, books that contain new forewords or prologues are probably not first editions.

• 5

  Consult a bibliography guide or a reference library for information regarding your book's first printing, such as the number of pages, the typeface used, or the name of the original publisher. Compare this information with any information you can glean from the book itself.

• 6

  Seek out a professional bibliographer to learn more about your book's true origins.