How do know if a book is a first edition?

Question

Is there anywhere I can check?

Answer 1

Most first editions say so ... but not all. Some include a number sequence on the copyright information page. If it is a first edition, it should have the numbers 10 through to 1, either:

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
or
2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1

If some numbers are missing then the lowest number is the number of the edition. For example:

10 9 8 7 6
or
6 8 10 9 7

both would be a sixth edition.

Answer 2

On the cover page it will usually say first edition or first printing. On the page behind the cover page there may be a sequence of numbers such as 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. All of them must be there including 1.

Answer 3

With modern books the answers already given regarding numbers are accurate but with older books it can be very difficult to identify 1st editions, for example in the books I collect, some publishers dated most things but in one case books published in the 1920ies were not dated though those published before and after were. With another publisher none of the books published in first 3 decades of 20th century were dated but after that some were until all were, at least for the books I know about. Books published in USA in the past are also a minefield for dating in my experience. It is one of my major gripes with people selling books on ebay that they assume that if a book is not dated it must be a 1st edition which is nonsense

Answer 4

A few pages in, a page says all the copyrights and legalities. The words "first edition" should be there. If not, it's not first edition.

Answer 5

check the isbn number online

Answer 6

It will say and it won't have a second edition.

Answer 7

the signature