Identifying First Editions...
By
Sherry Bruning

Introduction

Identifying a first edition book is like trying to learn grammar-- there are many rules and just as many exceptions. Also,  it can be a pain, but pays off handsomely in the long run. 

A first edition does not necessarily have to say "first edition" to be a first. Not all books that state "first edition" ARE firsts in the true sense of the word. In the book collecting world, first edition is synonymous with first printing. So, to be a true first edition, the book must be a first edition, first printing. If you were to sell a book as a first edition to a collector, they would be expecting a 1st/1st and would be dismayed to receive a first edition, 5th printing, for example.

Before I get into detail, I'd like to recommend a an invaluable resources to use if you're planning on selling collectible books. McBride's A Pocket Guide to the Identification of First Editions is essential, unless you're able to memorize every publisher's rules for id-ing a first edition and the years that those "rules" were in effect. Argh. If you're able to do that, please call me immediately, we need you.

The book is around $15 and saves you from taking up copious amounts of  brain space with publisher info.

http://firsteditionguide.com/

Not only do publishers have their own way of marking first editions, many changed their means of designation over the years. McBride's book lists publishers, along with first edition designations and years those designations were in effect.

Book Club Editions

Just to add to the confusion, there are book club editions, which often mimic first editions, but are NOT first editions and are usually worth very little. They tend to be cheaper editions of a book issued for a book club (ie: Book-of-the-Month Club, The Literary Guild, etc).

In rare cases, the BCE was the first issue of a book, but this is so unusual, we won't bother covering it here. Sometimes it's easy to distinguish a book club edition (BCE) from a trade hardcover -- the BCE can be smaller, printed on cheaper paper, have a small indentation on the rear board (lower right) -- usually a square or circle -- and some are marked "book club edition" on the front interior dust jacket flap. They often have numbers rather than an ISBN on the rear lower edge of the dust jacket as well. Most don't have prices on the front interior flap, either. Some are tricky, though. There are some Stephen King BCEs, for example,  that are the same size as the retail hardcover firsts and state "first edition" -- but there is no price on the front flap -- they are not firsts! You can sell them for a few dollars, but make sure you clearly identify them as BCEs to the potential buyer.

Sometimes, a first edition of a book is so hard to find or expensive that the BCE has become worth some money. In that case, Ebay is a great place to sell those books, clearly identified as a BCE. I sold an early Walker Percy title (a BCE) for $60. Very early BCE titles by Science Fiction writers (Asimov, Clarke) also are sometimes worth money-- you can search Ebay current and closed auctions for prices if you think you might have something interesting. The Walker Percy BCE was a very unusual situation, however.  Most BCEs are not worth auctioning or listing online, and the key is to ensure that you're not selling a BCE as a trade first edition. That would get your customers up in arms.

Identifying a First Edition - Major Publishers & Rules of the Trade for Hardcover Books

Many publishers have first edition statements and a number line or "letter line" (HBJ has letters) on the copyright page. The lowest number tells you what printing the book is. So, if a book states First Edition, but the number line goes down to 2, it is USUALLY a second printing. However, the one big exception to that rule is Random House. Their number line goes down to 2 instead of 1.

Here are some sample copyright page first edition indications, followed by  first edition "rules" for the major publishers.

Ace Copyright Page indicating a First Edition:

First Edition: June 1995 (or whatever date the book was published), then several lines later:

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 (This number line goes to 1, indicating a first printing of the first edition)
 

Major Publishers - First Edition, First Printing "Rules"

Ace - Must have statement of First Edition and number line that goes down to 1.

Alfred A. Knopf is easy - a first edition, first printing has "First Edition" on the copyright page. There's no number line or anything else to worry about. Knopf keeps it simple.

Doubleday - Same as above. The First Edition statement must appear on the copyright page.

Little, Brown - Statement of First Edition, followed by date and number line from 10-1.