Guidelines

How do you tell if s book is a first edition?

How do you tell if s book is a first edition?

Identifying the First Edition of a Book The publisher may actually state the words ‘first edition’ or ‘first printing’ on the copyright page. Another common method of identification is the number line – that’s a line of numbers on the copyright page. Usually, if a one is present in the line then it’s a first edition.

What does it mean when a book says first edition?

What is a first edition book? A book can go through several print cycles, sometimes with edits that add in author notes or additional material, so the book in its original form – during its initial release (or first printing) to the public – is what is generally defined as a first edition by collectors and sellers.

How do I know what edition my book is?

Look at the Copyright Page

  1. Look for the text that states the edition of the book. The copyright page is usually found on the back of the book’s title page.
  2. Check when the book was copyrighted and when it was published.
  3. Use the Number Line to Determine the Print.

Are first edition books worth anything?

First editions are sought-after by book collectors and a first edition is usually more valuable than a later printing. A first edition signed by the author will have even greater value.

What is the difference between first printing and first edition?

So if you ask the printer to print 10,000 copies of a book and then you sell them all and go back and ask for another 7,500 copies, the first 10,000 copies was the first printing; the next 7,500 copies was the second printing. An edition is when you make a significant change to a book.

What is so special about a first edition book?

First editions are prized because they are as close as a reader can get to the source. This is the way the book first appeared to readers, with the original cover art, and sometimes even the original typos.

What is the difference between first edition and first trade edition?

The type is the same as the 1951 first printing, therefore all hardcover copies are, for the bibliographer, the first edition. Collectors would use the term for the first printing only. The term “first trade edition,” refers to the earliest edition of a book offered for sale to the general public in book stores.

How do you find out if a book is worth money?

To check the value of your books, go abebooks.com or bookfinder.com. You can also sell on these sites or on eBay. Dealers pay immediately, usually about one-third of the retail price.

How to identify a first edition book-first edition?

The incomplete number line (10 9 8 7 6 5) in this example tells you that it is a fifth printing of that book. Sometimes the word “First Edition” will helpfully be printed on that page, often described as “First edition stated” by booksellers.

Which is the first edition of the book collecting guide?

The UK hardcover edition published by Secker & Warberg in 1949 is considered the true first edition over the US edition printed by Harcourt Brace in the same year. However, that UK first edition comes in a red dust jacket and also in a green dust jacket, and no-one seems to know which one was printed first.

Where do you find the printing date on a book?

That page is usually on the verso of the title page. Publishers will often use one of a few methods for showing where that copy falls in the printing history of that book. A number line might show the printing and sometimes the year of publication.

Is there only one edition of a book?

Unless the author or publishers makes changes to the text, adds something (like an appendix or author’s note), or revises the text, there is only one edition from format to format. 3. Look for the Print Run Number Print runs are a way for collectors to identify which “first edition” is truly the earliest version of the book to exist in the world.

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