How to Identify a First Edition Book by eBay seller NRGBooks ( click here for my eBay store link ) :
 
Positively identifying a collectible first printing from a later printing in the shortest possible time greatly increases the enjoyment and satisfaction of book collecting. What follows is an overview of how to determine whether the book you have is a first printing. Keep in mind that there are many exceptions to the brief examples below. A book's value is subjective and open to opinion, but this brief introduction should give you a start down the right path.....

First things first ... What's the difference between a "First Edition" and a "First Printing"?

The "First Edition" of a book is the first time a book is published. When there are enough changes to the original book, a revised Edition of the book is published. This is often the case with non-fiction books, text books, technology books, etc. On the other hand, fiction books and novels rarely have revisions after they are published (except for an occasional correction in spelling, grammar, etc.). The Adventures of Tom Sawyer for sale at your local book-mart is, word-for-word, the same as Mark Twain wrote it in 1876 ... so most books of fiction may usually have only one edition, but if the book is very popular, it may have many additional printings. When a book collector uses the phrase "first edition" they are usually referring to a book that was part of the very first printing of the First Edition (those books are called "1st/1st" on many eBay auction titles).

First Printing? Second Printing? How do I determine whether a book is a first, second or later printing?

Ok, what to look for:  For many years books have said "First Edition" on their Copyright Page. Newer books - those printed after 1965 or so - also have a number sequence printed on the Copyright Page that shows its reprint history. A number sequence that ends at "1" such as "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1" indicates it is a first printing. But, if the lowest number showing is 2, such as "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2" then that book is a second printing. If the lowest number showing is 3, then you have a third printing .. and so on. Also, look for clues on the Copyright Page on newer books to see if there is a statement of a later printing, such as "Reprinted 1999" or "Second Printing". Be aware that some publishers are in the nasty habit of indicating later printings on the number line without removing the “First Edition” statement. Books that state “First Edition” on their Copyright Page but have number lines that do not go all the way down to 1 (such as "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2") are later printings, not first printings.

Of course there are exceptions to these rules. Doubleday Books state "First Edition" on true firsts and removes that statement on later printings. Scribners uses the letter “A” under the copyright date line. See the list of reference books below for help in determining some of the more exotic ways publishers indicate first editions.

I have a later printing of a hard-cover novel in top condition, what is it worth?

To a collector or dealer probably very little - there is not much desire for later printings of current authors. But, if you have a copy of a current bestseller in top condition  - it may have value as a reading copy - perhaps 10% to 50% of its cover price. Also, some second printings may have value simply because the first edition is so very expensive - i.e.: second trade edition printings of early Stephen King novels may hold 5% to 25% of the first printing's value. Also, some later printings of popular 19th century authors such as Mark Twain or  Lewis Carroll may still have some value.

Book Club Editions

Book club editions (BOMC) are not usually candidates for a first edition. Except for a few exceptions, you can be fairly certain that if you have a Book Club Edition it is not a first edition.

What to look for:  Open the book and look at the inside flap of the dust jacket; if you're lucky, your book may identify itself there as a Book-of-the-Month Club selection or a book club edition Also, most book-club editions do not have a price printed on the inside front flap of the dust jacket.  Now look at dust jacket at the back of the book ... if you see a small white rectangle box with five numbers instead of a bar-code and ten-digit ISBN number you have a book-club edition. Now take off the dust jacket and look at the back board on the lower right corner by the spine; many Book-of-the-Month Club editions have a very small indented mark there.

Here is a quick run-down of how to identify book-club editions: No price inside front flap and/or no ten-digit ISBN number on the back of the dust jacket and/or there is a small indented spot on the back of the book. If your book has one or more of these clues, you can be fairly certain you have a book-club edition. Exception Alert! Some books produced by Universities and small presses have no price on the jacket.

I have a book club edition of a hard-cover book in top condition, what is it worth?

As a collectible probably very little - there is not much desire from collectors or dealers for club editions. On the other hand, if you have a book club edition in top condition of a current top-ten bestseller - it may have value as a reading copy - perhaps 10% to 50% of the trade edition's cover price.

Reprints

From the mid-1800s through the mid-1900s books by popular authors such as Edgar Rich Burroughs, Mark Twain, William Shakespeare or Charles Dickens were often reprinted by the boat load. Grosset & Dunlap published mountains of reprints in the early 1900s. Some other publishers that printed reprints are A.L. Burt, Cupples & Goldsmith, Sun Dial, Saalfield, and Triangle.

What to look for: Compare the publisher listed on the Title Page and to the publisher listed on the Copyright Page - if the book shows two different publishers, the book is probably a reprint. For example: a Grosset & Dunlap reprint of Edgar Rice Burroughs "The Beasts of Tarzan" states "Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers" on the Title Page, but states "Copyright A. C. McClurg & Co, 1916" on the the Copyright Page.

Yes, I have a reprint copy hard-cover book in top condition, what is it worth?

A collector of the author or someone who wants a reading copy of a classic work may pay, if in in top condition, perhaps 5% to 10% of the value of its non-reprint cousin.


Books to help Identify First Editions

In the book collecting world, there are exceptions to the exceptions, and many publishers indicate "First Edition" in their own unique way. The following books will arm you with years of knowledge found nowhere else. If you buy, collect or sell books, these should be your first investment.

POCKET GUIDE TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF FIRST EDITIONS by Bill McBride. Paperback 2000 Very useful pocket-size book - I use it myself and carry it with me to sales and auctions. This book is based on the author's experience handling thousands of actual first editions.

POINTS OF ISSUE : A COMPENDIUM OF POINTS OF ISSUE OF BOOKS BY 19TH-20TH CENTURY AUTHORS by Bill McBride. Paperback 1996. Another pocket-sized companion to the Guide listed above, it's also very useful. This is a list of specific books which have details (points of issue) that determine a first edition.

FIRST EDITIONS : A GUIDE TO IDENTIFICATION - Edward N Zempel (Editor). Hardcover 4th Edition (November 2001). More expensive than the McBride books, this is a compilation of publishers statements about their methods of identifying first editions.

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