how do you tell if a book is a first edition?

Answer 1

There are a few methods you can use to determine the edition of a book (but, remember that it is wise to double check by confirming true dates of first editions by consulting an author's bibliography, many of which are available online and can be found by using a search tool/engine - remember that there are unscrupulous dealers out there who inaccurately describe books as first editions/first printings - see Note). The usual method of identification is as follows.....


publishers usually use a numeric system for identifying the Edition of the book. On the Copyright and Dedication Pages, you will usually find a string of numbers (1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 - see image on right) which indicate the edition number. For instance, if the numbers from 1 to 9 are shown, you have a First Edition (1 represents the First, 2 represents the 2nd, 3 represents the 3rd and so on, some books will show edition numbers nearing 100, but not starting from 1). Whereas a second edition would show 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 (the number 1 has gone).

Answer 2

This is actually a much more complex issue than most of these answers are describing. Every publisher has a slightly different way of defining a first edition. To make it harder, publishers have chnaged their methods through history.

If your book was published in the US or UK in the last 40 years or so, the above answers should mainly hold true.

- Some publishers will actually print "1st Edition"
- Some will have a list of numerals 1 2 3... If the "1" is there, than it's a 1st edition
- Some will do the same as above with A,B,C instead of numbers (if the "A" is there it's a first.)

BUT you have to be careful. The following bugaboos can snarl you up even woith modern books.

1) Often the 1st time a UK book is printed in the US it will look like a true 1st edition when in fact it is a "1st US Edition"
2) Oftem reprints that are substantially different from the original edition (new illustrations, larger binding, etc.) will look like true firsts when they are really "1st edition thus"
3) Often times a book club will reprint an exact replica of a 1st edition, including the words "1st edition" on the title page. In this case you really need to know how to spot a Book Club Edition (BCE) They sometimes are only differentiated by the lack of a price on the dust cover. Sometimes they have a small geometric shape stamped in the back of the binding. They are usually slightly smaller and printed on lighter paper stock than the true first, but this is hard to judge unless you have a real first to compare it with.

For older books, the number of ways to designate 1st editions is extremely varied and sometimes non-existent. Your best bet for these books is to do some research on ABE.com or bibliofind.com to see if your edition matches those that established dealers are called theirs. Look for similarity in size, color and type of binding.

Answer 3

In bibliphile terms, plates is the termused for illustrations. So black and white plates are just what you'd think they'd be Full color or process color plates are again what you'd thinkthey'd bde -- sometimes process color plates will be printed on a glossy (coated) stock to enhance reproduction. To determine a book's provenancem you may have to be a bit of a deytective . Obviously, a copy of Tom Sawyer dated 1922, could not be a first edition, But the page before the title page should give you useful information such as Library of Congress number and year of publications. Frequently there will be a list of previous printings.

Answer 4

Look in the publishers details in first few pages. By law it has to declare when the edition was printed and which copy it is. I Hope you are not hoping for money from a book, there are very few valuable books, even first editions.

Answer 5

On the inside cover where you get all the publishers details etc there is a series of numbers printed - I'm pretty sure I've heard that if that number starts with 1 then it's a first edition - check it up on the net, you should be able to find the answer.

Answer 6

Look at the page at the front of the book that lists the publisher and asserts the copyright of the author.

If there are no previous printing dates listed, then it's a first edition.

Answer 7

The edition is usually written in the first pages, along with the copyrights etc.

Answer 8

it would say somewere if it was the second edition or third, most will say on the in cover page or inside page, if its does not say maybe its the first.

Answer 9

open the book, and it is usually at the first page on the back.

Answer 10

Read the bumph inside the cover. It should tell you.