Collecting, identifying, and valuing first edition dr. Why do books copyright pages have 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Probably the hardest part about writing a book is how to start a story in the first. If you find that the date on a book s page matches the date on. The notable exception to the basic number line is random house, who, starting in the 1970s up until the year 2003, indicated a first printing with the statement.
The assumption is that number lines also called printers codes or keys designate precise printing states and thus aid significantly in first edition identification. Book collecting guide identifying and collecting first. Identifying first editions the new antiquarian the blog of the. General guidelines for identifying a first edition number lines. If a number line begins with a 1 or a, you have a first edition. Luckily, there are other ways of telling if your book is a first edition. With each printing, the publisher removes a number from the line of numbers. Modern first edition points online reference guide for. Search, watch, and cook every single tasty recipe and video ever all in one place. Childrens books rare books and first editions bauman. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. The lowest number on that line often indicates that books printing number. Usually, if a one is present in the line then its a first.
How to identify first editions or a first printing of. Sometimes publishers include the words first edition next to the number line, even if the book was on its third printing, according abe books website. In books printed after 1968, look at the number line for the actual printing history. The printers key, also known as the number line, is a line of text printed on the page often the verso of the title page, especially in englishlanguage publishing of books, used to indicate the print run.
A general rule is that if the number 1 is listed, the book is a first edition. Its important to never judge a book by its cover, but how do you evaluate it. The beginners guide to identifying first editions book riot. Identifying and collecting first editions shop for books.
While this may be so in a majority of cases, there are so many exceptions to it that assuming this can get you into trouble in a hurry. What do the numbers in the first few pages of a book mean. Esther lombardi is a veteran journalist who has written about literature, education, and technology. The number line can provide some useful information if you know how to read it. Could you become a successful antiques and collectables dealer. To identify what printing you have, look for the lowest number in the string. There are thousands of publishers and they use a large variety of methods, which are often changed, to define first editions.
Not consistent in using a firstedition statement or identifying subsequent printings, and often bound up firstedition sheets later, so binding. First edition identification can be a complex and sometimes maddening task, but theres no question that books published in recent years are easier to nail down than those 50, 100 or more years old, largely due to the introduction some decades ago of the socalled number line. This is how the printers key will appear in the first print run of a book. Random house changed their number lines in about 2002 and now include a 1 in the number line. A number line might show the printing and sometimes the year of publication. When it all comes down to it, the best way to know that you are purchasing a true first edition, first printing is to get a guide to. In any event, sometimes number lines are accompanied by the words first edition but that does not necessarily mean it is the first printing. A bright dust jacket with light wear along the edges. Many of us have seen this bold statement more than once. A number 3 would indicate this first edition 3 4 5 6 7 8. First edition identification can be a complex and sometimes maddening task, but theres no question that books published in recent years are easier to nail down than those 50, 100 or more.
It all starts by opening to the first page and reading the first line. Houghton, mifflin usually puts the date in arabic numerals on the title page of first printings and removes it from later printings. Depending on demand, any number of printings can be made from a setting of type for example, a first printing might consist of copies, followed by a second printing of 2500 copies. It keeps track of what printing of the edition this is. Books to identify first editions and help the book seller in the book collecting world, there are exceptions to the exceptions, and many publishers indicated first edition in their own unique way. Since the number line method wasnt widely used until the 1980s, you may well find books older without one. There is no designation for a first printing, but later printings are noted on the page. Another common method of identification is the number line thats a line of numbers on the page. Number lines have been commonly used in the postworld war ii era. Down our ebook how to make a serious second income buying and selling collectables and find o. Using number lines in first edition identification bookthink. As you delve into the world of book collecting and begin to grasp the basics of identifying first editions and the print runs of collectible books, you are certain to.
The estimated values are for first edition books, with dust jackets. Rare first edition, special limited large paper issue of shackletons fascinating account of the british antarctic expedition of 19071909, number 274 of only 300 copies printed. The following table is an excerpt from our book the childrens picturebook price guide. List of modern first edition books for viking includes images, identification criteria, and points of issue to assist collectors in the identification of first editions. A dance with dragons by george r r martin, first edition. Publishers began this convention about the middle of the 20th century. Anness publishing uses a number line that reads 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2.
Further demonstrating the lack of standardization across publishers for the printers key, the publishing giant random house has indicated its first edition, first printing with the words first. However, book collectors generally use the term first edition to mean specifically the first print run of the first edition aka first edition, first impression. How to identify first editions or a first printing of a book. The string of numbers can be descending, as it is here, ascending, or in totally random order. Using number lines in first edition identification.
Contact by carl sagan first edition a sharp, tight, copy. The publisher may actually state the words first edition or first printing on the page. For a period of several years, they indicated a first printing with a number line that began with 2. Publishers first edition books it is very important for the novice book collector or bookseller to understand that the meaning and use of the term first edition is different in the publishing industry. May have occasionally stated first edition, but in general, the absence of a later printing statement indicates a first edition. How to easily identify a modern first edition book youtube. Thanks to marianne basham for the information on first editions obtained from salinas bookshelf for the childrens books in addition to the statement first editionfirst printing there are two number. The printers key, also known as the number line, is a line of text printed on the page. Abebooks explains how to identify a first edition book youtube. Find a first edition of your favorite book to add to your own collection or. Abebooks offers an immense collection of first edition books for sale, including some of the most famous books ever published. Bauman rare books first editions, signed and inscribed.