First Edition vs. First Printing?

Question

In the rare book world, is there a difference between a first edition and a first printing? Also, why the difference is price between these two listings for the same title? This is sellers stated information about their respective copies.---------- BRAND NEW HARDBACK: UK Import [True 1st Ed./1st Printing] ~ SIGNED by CHINA MIEVILLE directly on TP, in New, ARCHIVAL MYLAR WRAP. NO remainder mark. NOT a book club edition. (listed at $126.45) (off of amazon)--------
London, UK; Macmillan; 2004. 1st UK hardcover edition. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR. Fine in fine dj. (listed at $24.99) (off of ebay, not a bidable item)

Answer 1

This is not really my area, but an edition of a text can go through many printings, sometimes with decades or even centuries between them. My intuition tells me that the first printing of certain editions may be the most valuable, since the first printing would of course be the oldest. But maybe I'm wrong. I can also imagine it is possible that a later printing of a certain edition may be on better paper or have a peculiarity about the cover or something else that makes it distinctively collectible.

Answer 2

True, the ultimate for the collector would be a first edition, first printing.

Prices can vary widely because people want to make sales. There's no rhyme or reason much of the time. As you've probably seen on Amazon - there might be a copy for $4.59 and the next one listed is $59.95. Some sellers even comment about the craziness - one suggested you buy the cheaper copy and then re-sell it with your own for the bigger bucks.

There's a real possibility the two books are similar in most ways. Difficult to say without the two side by side. If this is one you're looking for, I'd check the second description since it doesn't say first printing to see if it is. And then? Well, you might have picked a winner.

Could also be that someone might not realize a book's worth. I sell on-line, so I'm often looking for treasures. The best I've had so far - a 59 cent children's books that went for $162.50 on eBay. Wish I could get one of those a day! On Amazon, the book is going for $200+. But you know what? I didn't want my copy sitting here. Maybe that's what's happened in this case as well.

P.S. When rating books, it's very subjective. Sites have guidelines and even these can vary. Amazon doesn't even have a fine category. If the sellers have feedback, that could be a real plus as well.

Answer 3

The first edition is the important information. The same edition can go many printings. The information you provide above is not exactly the same. For the first copy it does not give you the date and for the second one it does not mention the printing. The ISBN? Did you remove it from the info?
As you probably know one of the most accurate ways to compare if these are two copies of the exact same edition and printing is to check the ISBN number. You can either find it on the back cover (bottom) or on the title page verso - since this is a 2004 an edition- it has to be a 10 digit number. If both copies have the same ISBN number, the edition date is the same and have the same number of pages most likely you have two copies of the same edition My only question is about the autograph. The quality.
The price? Sometimes it is relative and depends on who is selling and why.

Answer 4

The more expensive one is pristine, presumably never read ("BRAND NEW ... ARCHIVAL MYLAR WRAP"). The other one is used. According to AbeBooks, fine means "Approaches the condition of As New, but without being crisp." Most sellers will not list a reprint as a first edition without making note of the printing.

Plus, some sellers ask more than others for the same thing.

Answer 5

Wikipedia has a great explanation of what first edition and first printing means. The basic knowledge is first edition, first printing in UK publishing is the same thing.