CHAPTER NINE

HOW TO IDENTIFY FIRST EDITIONS

Knowing how to identify a first edition is plainly a matter of importance in the building of any successful collection. Without such knowledge, even a comparatively advanced collector of considerable sophistication can go wrong, sometimes disastrously so. While no reputable dealer will knowingly sell a book as a first when it isn’t, there are many new dealers in the field who have not had sufficient depth of experience to know all the fine points. Even a dealer of many years’ experience can come a cropper in an unfamiliar area where he has little or no expertise. And there are, alas, many fledgling dealers who simply haven’t taken the time and trouble to learn the standard practices of the major publishing houses.

Which is not to say they are easy to learn. It sometimes seems as though publishers are—or at any rate were in the recent past—deliberately reluctant to make first-edition identification simple. Various handbooks are available—none of them wholly reliable, unfortunately—giving methods of identification, but the circumstances of collecting are such that you may not necessarily have an opportunity to make use of them when you need them. You may be at an auction, or at a neighborhood sale, or even in the shop of a dealer not specializing in firsts. If you leave the item and come back after you have done your checking, the chances are that someone else will have snapped it up in the meantime, especially if it is a truly desirable first edition. So it is wise to learn some key identification tests thoroughly.

On almost all modern books the necessary information will usually be found on the title page or its verso, the copyright page, or both. Knowing what to look for on these two pages will give you the answer in the large majority of cases, though not every time. First of all, check the name of the publisher. Most first editions will bear the imprint of the publishing firm, one recognizable as the original publisher. Especially before the post-World War II paperback revolution, several firms specialized in cheap reprints of popular books that had long since reached a point of no profit for the original publisher. Such books are usually very quickly recognizable by the cheapness of the paper and the binding, and also by the difference between the date of publication (normally on the title page) and the date of the copyright (on the copyright page). In most cases these dates should be identical, although it is possible for a book published near the beginning of a year to have a copyright date at variance with that on the title page. Many inexperienced collectors are also confused by the appearance of a long string of dates on the copyright page. This usually occurs on books of poetry or short stories where the individual pieces were published in periodicals at various earlier dates, and copyrighted then. Novels and plays will generally have a single copyright date.

Among the reprint publishers whose books may present some confusion are Doubleday and Company (formerly Doubleday, Doran & Co.) in Garden City, New York. During the last twenty or thirty years Doubleday has been publishing original works for the most part. But in the period between the two world wars, a large part of the Doubleday output consisted of reprints, and a Garden City imprint in those years should be taken as a clear warning to check further before assuming first edition status. Similarly, Indianapolis as an imprint should be another warning, since Bobbs-Merrill also issued a great many reprints, although once again it has also published first editions—for example, the early work of William Styron and the first books of Vladimir Nabokov published in this country. A book club edition, so marked on the dust jacket or elsewhere, is virtually certain not to be a first edition. An exception, relatively new, is The First Edition Society of the Franklin Library (a subdivision of the Franklin Mint) at Franklin Center, Pennsylvania. (See Chapter 14 for further details.)

Some book-club editions present a virtually insoluble problem of identification. Nowadays many books that are taken by book clubs are supplied by the publisher of the trade edition in identical format, with only the dust jacket giving any possible clue, sometimes having the name of the club somewhere on the jacket (although this is not always a positive identification, since in some cases the book’s selection as a book-club premium is advertised on the trade edition). One infallible sign, if the dust jacket is still totally intact, is the absence of a price on the flap of the dust jacket. Some book-club editions have a small black dot or a blind-stamped dot at the foot of the rear cover. And on books from the forties, fifties, and even into the sixties, it was common practice to print the book-club editions on much thinner paper, and quite often to use a cheaper binding. Here the beginner must have both copies of both editions in hand to distinguish between them. Once again, the seasoned dealer can guide the collector.

Before describing the ways in which major publishers mark (or fail to mark) their first editions, a word about terminology may be in order. “Edition,” “printing,” and “issue” are all words used by publishers, bibliographers, and booksellers. However, they are not always used in the same way or even consistently, especially by publishers and booksellers.

To bibliographers (who try to be accurate in all things) an “edition” means all copies of a book printed from a single unchanged setting of type. In the publishing life of a book, the first copy off the press is a “first edition” and so is the five hundred thousandth, even if the latter has a different binding or was printed five years later—so long as the original typesetting remains unchanged. A “printing,” on the other hand, means only those copies produced during a single press run. “Impression” is synonymous with “printing.” Thus an edition may incorporate a whole series of printings. An “issue,” finally, is a still smaller category than a printing. Sometimes during a press run the printer may discover an error, stop the press and correct it, then go on to finish the printing. Or a publisher may choose to bind the completed sheets at a different time in different materials. A bibliographer describes the differently bound copies, or those with an error and those without, as two separate issues. The word “state” means much the same thing as “issue.” (For fine distinctions, see entries under these words in Chapter 16.)

To publishers, “printing” is the key term. Most of them are today fairly careful to indicate the printing a particular copy belongs to (see below). They are much less careful in their use of the word “edition.” In publishing usage a “new edition” implies a complete revision or updating or recasting of the book and its contents. But before the book actually goes into a “new edition,” many textual changes of greater or lesser importance may be introduced silently at the time of a new printing. The poet Robert Lowell, for example, often took the opportunity offered by a new printing to change words and sometimes whole lines. So did W. H. Auden and Marianne Moore. Errors are usually corrected and minor updating done as a matter of course.

Because of this fairly free and easy attitude toward the words “edition” and “printing” in publishing today, book collectors and dealers have come to regard “first edition” and “first printing” as synonymous. A book listed in a catalog as a first edition will as a matter of course be a first printing. (Some scrupulous—or overhopeful—dealers may list a book as, say, “First edition, fifth printing,” which may be technically accurate but unappealing to a collector with no interest in anything but the first printing.)

It will be noted that more and more American publishers are adopting a system of ascending numbers printed on the copyright page, sometimes along with the words “First Edition.” These words and the numeral “1” are then removed from the plate at the time of the second printing so that the number series now begins with “2.” In this system there is no need for any resetting of type.

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

The following list summarizes the first edition and printing notation practices of most major American and British publishing houses, particularly those who publish—or have published—works of widely collected authors. It is based upon information gathered from several sources, including my own experience, but most of it is the result of a canvass of the publishing houses themselves.

METHODS OF IDENTIFYING FIRST EDITIONS AND FIRST PRINTINGS OF BOOKS ISSUED BY IMPORTANT BRITISH AND AMERICAN PUBLISHING FIRMS

ABELARD-SCHUMAN, LTD. Later printings are so marked.

ADVENTURES IN POETRY To date no book has gone into a later printing. The colophon bearing publication data is generally the last page of text.

GEORGE ALLEN & UNWIN, LTD. Later printings are so indicated.

ALOES BOOKS Later printings are so indicated.

APPLETON-CENTURY-CROFTS (formerly D. Appleton and Company) The words “First Edition” appear on the copyright page or the Roman numeral I follows the last line of text on the last page.

ARGUS BOOKS, INC. (also known as Ben Abramson, Publisher) Lack of any notice of a later printing indicates a first.

ARKHAM HOUSE All Arkham House books are first editions with the exception of The Collected Works of H. P. Lovecraft, where the edition is noted in the colophon.

ARROW BOOKS, LTD. There must be no indication of a later printing on the copyright page.

ATHENEUM PUBLISHERS “First Edition” (or “First American Edition” when the book has had a prior European publication) appears on the copyright page. One notable exception is Edward Albee’s Tiny Alice, where this notice was inadvertently omitted. Since the book did not go into a second printing, all regular trade copies are first editions, but care must be taken not to confuse them with the simultaneous book club edition.

THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY PRESS The lack of notice of any further printings on the copyright page indicates a first edition. In 1925, the firm merged with Little, Brown, and Company, and since then both names appear on the title page.

THE AUERHAHN PRESS With the single exception of John Wieners’ Hotel Wentley Poems, no book ever went into a later printing. The title of the fifth poem is expurgated in the first printing of this book, but is spelled out in full in the later printing.

ROBERT o. BALLOU, INC. (or Robert O. Ballou, Publisher) The copyright page bears the legend “First published—” (with year date).

THE BANYAN PRESS All books are first editions; the press does not reprint.

BARRE PUBLISHING COMPANY Identical dates appear on the title and copyright pages.

BASIC BOOKS Identical dates appear on the title and copyright pages.

B. T. BATSFORD, INC. The copyright page bears the words “First printed 19—.” Later printings are usually listed below this line.

BEACON PRESS Earlier books listed later printings on the copyright page. Since the mid-1970s, the row of ascending numbers has been used, with the lowest number indicating the printing.

BLACK SPARROW PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page. A further identification can be made by noting the color of ink on the title page. First editions have title pages in two or more colors, whereas the later printings have title pages in black only.

BLACK SUN PRESS Most of the books had only one printing. The few that did have second printings are so noted in the colophon.

BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY, INC. For many years there was no uniformity of practice regarding identification of first printings, a situation further complicated by the fact that the firm was primarily engaged in issuing low-priced reprints. Some titles bear the words “First Edition,” and copies lacking such (as, for example, William Styron’s Lie Down in Darkness) are either later printings or book club editions. On some other titles, a lack of any indication denotes a first, with later printings being so noted on the copyright page. With this firm it is always wise to consult an author bibliography when possible.

THE BODLEY HEAD, LTD. First editions are designated by the words “First published 19—” on the copyright page.

ALBERT AND CHARLES BONI (later, Boni and Liveright) Either the words “First Edition” must appear on the copyright page or the dates on the title and copyright pages must be identical.

R. R. BOWKER co. The absence of any notation of a later printing indicates a first edition.

GEORGE BRAZILLER, INC. The words “First Edition” must appear on the copyright page.

BRENTANO’S This company’s policy through 1927 was to list later printings on the copyright page. Beginning in 1928, the words “First Edition” were placed on the copyright page.

BREWER AND WARREN (later, Brewer, Warren & Putnam) Identical dates appear on title and copyright pages. Also, a lack of any indication of a later printing denotes a first.

BROADSIDE PRESS The words “First Edition” must appear on the copyright page.

CALDER & BOYERS, LTD. (also John Calder [Publisher] Ltd.) Later printings are so noted on the copyright page.

JONATHAN CAPE, LTD. Later printings are so noted on the copyright page.

JONATHAN CAPE AND HARRISON SMITH (U.S.) There must be no listing of subsequent printings after the date of publication appearing on the copyright page.

CAPRA PRESS Later printings are so indicated on copyright page.

CARCANET PRESS As of 1979 no publication had gone into a later printing.

CAXTON PRINTERS, LTD. Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page. Lack of any printing information indicates a first.

THE CENTURY co. Book must have identical dates on title and copyright pages or the words “First Printing” on the copyright page. Where no date appears on the title page, lack of any indication of a later printing is evidence of a first edition. C

HATTO AND WINDUS Later printings are noted on the copyright page.

CITADEL PRESS Either the words “First Printing” appear on the copyright page, or else there is no indication of a later printing.

CITY LIGHTS This firm has no policy regarding first printings. Sometimes later printings are indicated on the copyright page, and sometimes at the top of the rear cover. Sometimes an increased price is the only indication of a later printing, but obviously in such cases a knowledge of the original price is necessary. With this firm it is absolutely essential to consult author bibliographies.

COACH HOUSE PRESS Normally there is no mention made of first printings, but usually (although not always) later printings are indicated in the colophon.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS Prior to the 1970s, a date on the title page indicated a first printing. On later printings, the date was removed. Currently, the series of ascending numbers is in use.

COPELAND AND DAY Book must have identical dates on title and copyright pages.

CORNELL UNIVERSITY PRESS The copyright page bears the legend “First published—” (with year date). Later printings are so indicated.

COSMOPOLITAN BOOK COMPANY Book must have identical dates on title and colophon pages.

COVICI FRIEDE (Also Pascal Covici) Either the words “First Edition” appear on the copyright page, or else the dates on the title and copyright pages must be identical.

COVICI-MCGEE, PUBLISHERS The words “First Printing” appear on the copyright page.

COWARD MCCANN, INC. (later, Coward, McCann & Geohegan) There is no mention of first printings, but all later printings are so marked on the copyright page.

CREATIVE AGE PRESS, INC. Either there must be identical dates on title and copyright pages, or, when no date appears on the title, there must be no indication of a later printing on the copyright page.

THOMAS Y. CROWELL COMPANY, INC. This company has had three different ways of marking its first editions. The most common is to have the words “First Printing” on the copyright page. The second is the lack of any indication of a later printing. The third, and current, is the row of ascending numbers in conjunction with the words “First Edition.”

CROWN PUBLISHERS, INC. Subsequent printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

CUMMINGTON PRESS The very few second printings by this press are so indicated in the colophon.

DARTMOUTH PUBLICATIONS Book must have identical dates on title and copyright pages.

THE JOHN DAY COMPANY, INC. The date in the legend “First Published—” (with month and year) on the copyright page must agree with the date on the title page; or, lacking this legend, there must be no indication of a later printing. Currently, the words “First Edition” appear on the copyright page.

STEPHEN DAYE PRESS There must be no indication of a later printing.

DELACORTE PRESS The words “First Printing” appear on the copyright page, or when the book has had a prior foreign edition, the legend reads “First Delacorte Edition.”

THE DERRYDALE PRESS, INC. The copyright page has a listing of the edition, and usually the number of copies comprising the edition. This occasionally appears in the colophon instead of on the copyright page.

ANDRE DEUTSCH, LTD. Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

THE DIAL PRESS Either the words “First Edition” must appear on the copyright page, or the dates on the title and copyright page must agree.

DODD, MEAD & COMPANY Earlier, the dates on the title and copyright pages agreed. Currently, the series of ascending numbers is in use to indicate printings.

THE DOLMEN PRESS, LTD. Later printings are so indicated, usually (but not always) on the copyright page.

GEORGE H. DORAN & co. The copyright page must bear either the words “First Printing” or the “GHD” monogram.

DORRANCE AND CO., INC. Either the words “First Edition” appear on the copyright page or there must be no listing of later printings on the copyright page.

DOUBLEDAY & CO., INC. (Also Doubleday, Doran, & Co.) The words “First Edition” must appear on the copyright page. This is sometimes varied when the book is the first American edition, the legend then reading “First Edition in the United States of America.” Finally, if a limited edition preceded the trade edition, the legend reads “First Edition following the publication of a limited edition.”

DOUBLEDAY PAGE & COMPANY The words “First Edition” must appear on the copyright page.

DUELL, SLOAN & PEARCE Any one of three indications must appear on the copyright page: “First Edition,” “First Printing,” or a Roman numeral I.

DUFFIELD & CO. (or Duffield and Green) The words “First Edition” must appear on the copyright page.

DUKE UNIVERSITY PRESS Later printings are generally indicated on the copyright page. Sometimes the presence of more than one copyright date will indicate a later printing if it is not so stated.

DUNSTER HOUSE BOOKSHOP Identical dates appear on title and copyright pages.

PHILIP C. DUSCHNES Identical dates appear on title and copyright pages.

E. P. DUTTON & CO., INC. The earlier practice was to have the words “First Edition” on the copyright page. The current practice is to use the series of ascending numbers in conjunction with the words “First Edition” (or “First American Edition” when the book has had a prior foreign edition).

EAKINS PRESS Usually (but not always) the words “First Edition” appear on the copyright page. However, the question is academic as no books of this press went into later printings.

ECCO PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page. There is no marking for first editions.

EQUINOX COOPERATIVE PRESS, INC. Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

EYRE METHUEN, LTD. (formerly Eyre & Spottiswoode, Ltd.) Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

FABER & FABER, LTD. (formerly Faber & Gwyer) Until the mid-1970s this firm consistently used the words “First published in —” with the year in Roman numerals. Subsequent printings were also listed in Roman numerals. Since that date, the practice has been the same but Arabic numerals are now in use.

FALMOUTH PUBLISHING HOUSE, INC. Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

FARRAR & RINEHART, INC. (also Farrar Straus & Company, Farrar Straus & Cudahy, and currently, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Inc.) The earlier practice was to place the firm’s monogram “fs” or “frs” in large lower-case italics on the copyright page. Currently, the words “First Edition” (with year date) appear on the copyright page. However, a problem arises with their paperback editions. The practice of this house has been to bind up in paper whatever sheets are on hand from hardcover printings. Thus second or even third printings are often actually the first paperback. Precise information on a given book must be obtained from the publisher or from a reliable bibliography.

FIELDS, OSGOOD & CO. Identical dates appear on title and copyright pages.

FOLLETT PUBLISHING co. First editions are not designated as such. A single date on the copyright page indicates a first, with later editions carrying a dated printing key on the copyright page.

FOUR SEAS COMPANY No notice of later printings appears on the copyright page.

FOUR SEASONS FOUNDATION Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. The firm makes no distinction whatever between printings. A bibliography must be consulted, or you must have a sure knowledge of the proper ads to be found on the back cover. These ads change with each printing. F

ULCRUM PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

FUNK & WAGNALLS, INC. These are three different methods employed by this firm to indicate first editions: the copyright page bears the words “First Published” (with a month and year); or the numeral 1 appears after the copyright date; or, in some rare cases, there is merely no indication of a later printing. Currently the words “First Edition” appear on the copyright page.

GAMBIT The words “First Printing” appear on the copyright page.

BERNARD GEIS ASSOCIATES The words “First Printing” appear on the copyright page.

GODINE PRESS Later printings are so designated on the copyright page.

VICTOR GOLLANCZ, LTD. There must be no indication of a later printing on the copyright page.

LAURENCE J. GOMME Identical dates appear on title and copyright pages.

GRANADA PUBLISHING, LTD. Later printings are so indicated on copyright page.

GREENBERG PUBLISHER, INC. There must be no indication of a later printing on the copyright page.

GREY FOX PRESS In some cases, the words “First Edition” appear on the copyright page, but all later printings are so indicated there.

GROSSMAN PUBLISHERS, INC. This firm was not consistent in its markings. Some books bear the words “First Printing” on the copyright page, others simply lack any indication of further printings. This later style was used on books published in conjunction with the British firm of Jonathan Cape, Ltd.

GROVE PRESS, INC. The words “First Edition” appear on the copyright page, with later printings also noted there.

HAMISH HAMILTON, LTD. Later printings are so noted on the copyright page.

HARCOURT, BRACE & COMPANY (also Harcourt, Brace & World, and currently Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc.) At first the practice was to place the numeral 1 on the copyright page, or to have the legend “Published—” (with month and year), this date being identical with the date on the title page. Currently the words “First Edition” (or “First American Edition”) must appear on the copyright page.

HARPER & ROW, PUBLISHERS (also Harper & Brothers, and Harper & Row, Peterson) First printings of books published by this firm between 1960 and 1973 are the most difficult of all to identify. Most Harper books published between 1922 and 1960 should bear the words “First Edition” on the copyright page. However this policy was not always adhered to, and from 1960 until 1973 (except on certain books originating in Great Britain) two code letters were used alone on the copyright page. (Prior to 1960 the code letters were also used but in conjunction with the phrase “First Edition.”) These code letters, whose use first began in 1912, indicate respectively the month and year of the printing of that copy of the book, according to the schedule on the next page. With this key you can easily determine the month and year of printing of the copy you have, but it will still be necessary to ascertain in what month and year the book was first published before you know your book is a first printing. So you will have to consult an author bibliography, if one exists, or to try to obtain publication information from the firm itself. Unfortunately, the latter method is seldom successful; in some cases the firm no longer has records, and in some cases no one has time to reply. Fortunately, this coding system was discontinued in 1973 in favor of the series of ascending numbers in conjunction with two-digit year dates.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page, with the dates on the title and copyright pages identical. Dates are removed from title pages on later printings.

Key to Harper & Row printing dates.

HASTINGS HOUSE PUBLISHERS, INC. Dates on title and copyright pages are identical, with no indication of later printing on the copyright page.

WILLIAM HEINEMANN, LTD. Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

HILL AND WANG Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

HODDER & STOUGHTON, LTD. Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

HOGARTH PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

HENRY HOLT & CO., INC. (Also Holt, Rinehart and Winston) Earlier books were marked with any one of three different wordings: “First Edition,” or “First Published” (with month and year date) ; or on the copyright page, with the year date corresponding to the date on the title page. Currently, the words “First Edition” appear with the ascending series of numbers.

HORIZON PRESS There must be no indication of later printings.

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY Earlier books bore the date on the title page, with no date on later printings. Currently, the series of ascending numbers is in use.

HOWELL SOSKIN PUBLISHERS There must be no indication of later printings on the copyright page.

B. W. HUEBSCH The dates on the title and copyright pages must be identical.

INDIANA UNIVERSITY PRESS There must be no listing of later printings on the copyright page. Recently, the system of ascending numbers has been adopted.

JARGON (Jonathan Williams Publisher) There is no indication of edition on the publications of this firm with the single exception of Irving Layton’s Improved Binoculars, where a second, expanded edition was issued, and so noted on the front cover. All other books were issued in one printing only.

THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY PRESS Later printings are so noted on the copyright page.

MICHAEL JOSEPH, LTD. Later printings are so noted on the copyright page.

KAYAK Those few books that have gone into second printings are so designated on the copyright page.

MITCHELL KENNERLY Dates on the title and copyright pages are identical.

KENT STATE UNIVERSITY PRESS Until 1973 the words “First Edition” appeared on the copyright page. Since then, the policy has been reversed, with no notice of first printings, but with “Second Printing,” etc., on the copyright page to denote later printings.

ALFRED A. KNOPF, INC. On earlier books, the date on the title page must correspond with the copyright date, as the date on the title page generally indicates the year of the printing, rather than the year of original publication. This is still true, but in recent years the words “First Edition” appear on the copyright page, with subsequent printings also listed there.

JOHN LANE COMPANY Dates on the title and copyright pages are identical.

SEYMOUR LAWRENCE, INC. The words “First Printing” appear on the copyright page.

J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY In earlier books the words “First Edition” must appear on the copyright page, or the dates on the title and copyright pages must be identical. An example of this latter style which confuses many collectors is Thomas Pynchon’s V, where the first edition is identifiable only in this manner. More recently, the series of ascending numbers has been used in conjunction with the words “First Edition.”

LITTLE, BROWN & CO. The words “First Edition” must appear on the copyright page.

HORACE LIVERIGHT, INC. (Also Liveright Publishing Co.) There should be no evidence of later printings on the copyright page. In some cases, the words “First Edition” appeared on the copyright page, but the absence of them does not indicate a later printing. Since 1970 the series of ascending numbers has been employed along with the words “First Edition.”

LONGMANS, GREEN & CO. The legend “First Published” (with year date) appears on the copyright page. This date must agree with that on the title page.

LOTHROP PUBLISHING co. The dates on title and copyright pages must be identical, with no listing of further printings on the copyright page.

LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY PRESS There must be no listing of additional printings on the copyright page.

JOHN w. LUCE & co. There must be no listing of additional printings on the copyright page.

LYLE STUART, INC. The words “First Edition” appear on the copyright page, with this changed to “Second Printing,” etc., on subsequent printings.

THE MACAULAY co. There must be no indication of later printings on the copyright page.

ROBERT M. MCBRIDE & co. Three different methods of identifying first editions have been employed by this firm: the words “First Edition” on the copyright page; “First Published” (with month and year) on copyright page; or “Published —” (with month and year) on copyright page. In both the latter styles, the dates on title and copyright pages must be identical.

MCCLELLAND AND STEWART, LTD. Later printings are usually so indicated on the copyright page. The firm admits that there have been some accidental omissions.

THE MCCLURE CO. (Also McClure Phillips & Co.) The copyright page must bear either the legend “Published” (with month and year) or “First Impression” (with month and year). In either case the dates on the title and copyright pages must be identical.

A. c. MCCLURG & co. The copyright page bears the legend “Published” (with month and year).

MCDOWELL OBOLENSKY co. The words “First Printing” must appear on the copyright page.

MACGIBBON & KEE, LTD. Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

MCGRAW-HILL BOOK co. The words “First Edition” must appear on the copyright page. More recently, the series of ascending numbers has been in use.

DAVID MCKAY COMPANY, INC. Prior to the 1970s, there must be no indication of later printings on the copyright page. Since then, the series of ascending numbers has been in use.

MACMILLAN PUBLISHING CO., INC. Either the words “First Printing” or the legend “First Published” (with month and year date) must appear on the copyright page, in which case the dates on the title and copyright pages must be identical. There have been occasional exceptions to this practice, and it is safer to consult author bibliographies when possible.

METHUEN & CO., LTD. See EYRE METHUEN, LTD.

MINTON, BALCH & co. Dates on the title and copyright pages must be identical.

MODERN AGE BOOKS The dates on the title and copyright pages must be identical.

WILLIAM MORROW & co., INC. Prior to the 1970s the dates on the title and copyright pages must be identical. Occasionally the legend “First Printing” (with month and year) was employed. Since the 1970s the series of ascending numbers has been used in conjunction with the words “First Edition,” which are allowed to remain unless there has been a revision of the text.

NASH PUBLISHING co. The words “First Printing” must appear on the copyright page.

THE NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY, INC. The words “First Printing” (with month and year date) must appear on the copyright page. This date must be identical with the date on the title page.

NEW DIRECTIONS PUBLISHING CORP. Over the years the first-edition indication system of this firm has varied so much that it is jocularly referred to by some dealers as “No Directions.” The policy has been particularly inconsistent in respect to its hardbound books. On the paperbacks, the printing has almost always been noted in either the upper left or upper right corner of the rear cover. With the hardbound books, identification of first printings is difficult and often impossible. Generally, any book that does not show evidence of a later printing can be assumed to be a first, but there are numerous exceptions to this rule. Specific information must be sought, or an author bibliography consulted. Frequently, the later printings are noted only on the dust jacket flaps, which may, of course, be clipped, or removed entirely, rendering positive identification difficult at best. In one case, at least, the phrase “First Edition” appearing on the copyright page of Tennessee Williams’ The Rose Tattoo was allowed to remain on the second printing (which can be identified only by the color of the binding). Recently, later printings have been so indicated on the copyright page.

NEW RIVERS PRESS The colophon carries all pertinent information regarding the printing and edition.

w. w. NORTON & CO., INC. The words “First Edition” appear on the copyright page. More recently, the series of ascending numbers is being used in conjunction with the words “First Edition,” which are sometimes allowed to remain on later printings—for example, on Adrienne Rich’s Diving into the Wreck.

IVAN OBOLENSKY The words “First Edition” must appear on the copyright page.

THE ODYSSEY PRESS, INC. The words “First Edition” appear on the copyright page, or else a combination of letters and numbers —the letter indicating the state of the text, and the number, the edition. Thus “A-1” indicates a first printing of the original text, whereas “B-1” would be the first printing of a revised text, and “A-2” would be a second printing of the original, unrevised text.

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY PRESS Later printings are so noted on the copyright page.

OHIO UNIVERSITY PRESS Later printings are so noted on the copyright page.

OLIVER & BOYD Later printings are so noted on the copyright page.

OLYMPIA PRESS Later printings are so noted on the copyright page.

JAMES R. OSGOOD & co. Dates on title and copyright pages must be identical.

PETER OWN, LTD. Later printings are so noted on the copyright page.

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS All later printings are so noted on the copyright page.

OYEZ Later printings are so noted on the copyright page.

PANTHEON BOOKS, INC. The words “First Edition” or “First Printing” must appear on the copyright page.

PAYSON & CLARKE, LTD. The dates on the title and copyright pages must be identical.

PELLEGRINI & CUDAHY There must be no evidence of later printings on the copyright page.

PENMAEN PRESS This firm issues only first editions, which are sometimes so marked.

PERGAMON PRESS, INC. The words “First Edition” must appear on the copyright page.

PERISHABLE PRESS The policy of this firm is to print one edition only, and therefore there is no indication of printing on anything except the first book of the press, The Disillusioned Solipsist, which bore the words “First Printing” on the title page. This practice was abandoned immediately thereafter.

PETER PAUPER PRESS Formerly when the books of this press were limited editions notice of such was made in the colophons. Since shifting to the publication of trade books, there has been no definite means of identifying printings. The matter is, however, academic, as virtually everything published by this house consists of reprints of established classics.

THE PHOENIX BOOK SHOP Later printings are so noted on the title page.

THE POET’S PRESS Relatively few books of this press have gone beyond first printings. Those that did are so noted on either the title or the copyright page.

BERN PORTER BOOKS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

CLARKSON POTTER, INC. The words “First Edition” appear on the copyright page, with later printings being so noted.

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS Formerly, later printings were so noted on the copyright page, but this practice has been discontinued and later printings are indicated only when there has been significant change in the text.

G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS Later printings are sometimes so noted on the copyright page. In any case the dates on the title and copyright pages must be identical. Books that are reprinted frequently lack any date whatever on the title page.

RAND, MCNALLY & co. The words “First Printing” (with month and year) appear on the copyright page. The date there must correspond with the title page date.

RANDOM HOUSE The words “First Edition” or “First Printing” must appear on the copyright page. (Two important exceptions to this practice are Faulkner’s Requiem for a Nun and Knight’s Gambit, in which all indication of first printing status were inadvertently omitted. These first editions must be distinguished by the colors of their bindings.)

HENRY REGNERY COMPANY This company follows no set practice. During the year 1974 it used the series of ascending numbers, but discontinued it the following year. Bibliographies must be consulted.

REYNAL & HITCHCOCK, INC. Most books of this firm bore no indication of printing (there were a few exceptions carrying the words “First Printing” on the copyright page). Lack of any indication of a later printing indicates a first.

ROUTLEDGE & KEGAN PAUL, LTD. Later printings are so noted on the copyright page.

WILLIAM EDWIN RUDGE The dates on the title and copyright pages must be identical.

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY PRESS Later printings are so noted on the copyright page.

SAGAMORE PRESS Later printings are so noted on the copyright page.

SAGE BOOKS, INC. Later printings are so noted on the copyright page.

SAND DOLLAR To date no book of this press has gone into a later printing. The publisher states that should this happen, he will indicate later printings on the copyright page.

HENRY SCHUMAN, INC. (now known as Abelard-Schuman, Ltd.) Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS This firm has employed three different methods of marking its first editions. Until early in 1929, the dates on the title and copyright pages had to be identical, with no indication of a later printing on the copyright page. Late in 1929, the code letter “A” began to be placed on the copyright page to indicate the first printing. On later printings this was either removed or replaced with subsequent letters of the alphabet. This code letter system was discontinued in 1973 and the series of ascending numbers adopted.

SEARS PUBLISHING co., INC. Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

MARTIN SECKER & WARBURG, LTD. Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

THOMAS SELTZER Dates on title and copyright pages are identical. SHAMBALA PUBLICATIONS, INC. Later printings are so noted on the copyright page.

SIMON AND SCHUSTER, INC. The words “First Printing” must appear on the copyright page.

WILLIAM SLOANE ASSOCIATES, INC. The words “First Printing” must appear on the copyright page.

SMALL MAYNARD & co. Dates on the title and copyright pages must be identical.

HARRISON SMITH, INC. (also known as Harrison Smith & Robert Haas, Inc.) The words “First Printing” must appear on the copyright page.

SOMETHING ELSE PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

STANFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS Later printings are so noted on the copyright page.

STEIN & DAY, PUBLISHERS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

FREDERICK A. STOKES & co. Dates on the title and copyright pages must be identical. HERBERT S. STONE & CO. (also Stone & Kimball) Dates on the title and copyright pages are identical.

STONEWALL PRESS Dates on the title and copyright pages are identical.

SUMAC PRESS The words “First Edition” appear on the copyright page in most cases, but not all. However, all later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

THE SUNWISE TURN Dates on the title and copyright pages are identical.

THE SWALLOW PRESS (also Alan Swallow, Publisher) The words “First Printing” (with month and year date) must appear on the copyright page with the year identical with that on the title page. More recently, the wording has been changed to “First Edition, first printing.”

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY PRESS There must be no indication of a later printing on the copyright page.

TAPLINGER PUBLISHING CO., INC. The words “First Edition” must appear on the copyright page. If the book had a prior foreign edition, the wording will read either “First American Edition” or “First Published in the United States in————(year) by Taplinger Publishing Co., Inc.”

TICKNOR AND COMPANY (also Ticknor and Fields) Dates on the title and copyright pages are identical in most cases. There are however some exceptions where the title page date may possibly be a year later than the copyright date. With this firm it is always best to consult either an author bibliography or the Merle Johnson checklist.

TOTEM-CORINTH There is no specific way of indicating first or later printings by this firm, and extreme care must be taken, as almost all of this firm’s important titles have gone into numerous printings, most of which appear similar to the untutored eye. Generally speaking, the later printings will have ads in the back of the books listing titles that were published later than the first printing of the particular book. To identify these, however, requires detailed knowledge of the publishing chronology of all of the firm’s books. It is absolutely imperative to consult author bibliographies or reliable checklists.

TRIDENT PRESS Dates on the title and copyright pages must be identical, or, in some rare cases where the title page date is a year later than the copyright date, there must be no listing of additional printings.

TROBAR Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

FREDERICK UNGAR PUBLISHING co., INC. There must be no indication of later printings on the copyright page.

UNICORN PRESS All information is contained within the colophon, which usually gives the printing dates and the size of the edition.

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA PRESS There must be no indication of later printings on the copyright page.

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA PRESS There must be no indication of later printings on the copyright page.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS Dates on the title and copyright pages are identical.

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page (or very occasionally on the title page).

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the title page.

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA PRESS The words “First Edition” appear on the copyright page.

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the title or copyright page.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA PRESS The words “First Edition” appear on the copyright page.

UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

UNIVERSITY PRESS OF VIRGINIA Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

VANGUARD PRESS, INC. Prior to the mid-1970s, later printings were so indicated on the copyright page. Currently, the series of ascending numbers is used.

VIKING PRESS, INC. (now Viking Penguin, Inc.) Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page, which usually bears the words “Published—” (with month and year). On juveniles, the words “First Edition” appear on the copyright page along with both a numerical and a year code—1 2 3 4 5 82 81 80 79 78. On the second printing the words “First Edition” are removed, along with the numeral 1, and also the year date if the printing is in a succeeding year.

FRANKLIN WATTS, INC. On earlier books, the words “First Edition” must appear on the copyright page. Since the mid-1970s the series of ascending numerals has been in use.

WEIDENFELD & NICHOLSON, LTD. (also Weidenfeld [Publishers], Ltd.) Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY PRESS The words “First Edition” must appear on the copyright page, where later printings are also indicated.

WEYBRIGHT & TALLEY, INC. Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.

WHITE RABBIT PRESS Almost no books of this press went into later printings. The one known exception is Robert Duncan’s As Testimony, where the second printing can be distinguished by the presence of illustrations.

WHITLESEY HOUSE Either the words “First Edition” will appear on the copyright page, or there will be no notice of later printings.

THE H. W. WILSON co. The dates on the title and copyright pages must be identical. Later printings are also usually indicated on the copyright page.

WINGBOW PRESS The words “First Edition” or “First Printing” usually occur on the copyright page, where later printings are so indicated.

WORLD PUBLISHING co. The words “First Printing” or “First Edition” must appear on the copyright page.

YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS Later printings are so indicated on the copyright page.