We thought it might help both Buyers and Sellers to know exactly what is a 1st Edition and what is not. Daily we witness people selling what they believe to be First Editions on Ebay. Save yourself the headaches. The best way to protect yourself is with knowledge. We have tried to list the most popular Publishers and sincerely hope that this guide helps both buyers and sellers.

For more information please refer to the 1995 edition of Edward N. Zempel and Linda A. Verkler’s “First Editions: A Guide to Identification(Spoon River Press).

We have listed the publishers alphabetically.

D. Appleton & Co: Used a numerical identification, in parenthesis or brackets, at the foot of the last page: “(1)” = First Printing, “(2)” = Second Printing, etc. (May have occasionally used a “first edition” statement instead of the numerical identification.

D. Appleton-Century Co: Prior to the 1980’s, used numerical identification, in parenthesis or brackets, at the foot of the last page: “(1)” = First Printing, “(2)” = Second Printing, etc. (May have occasionally used a “first edition” statement instead of the numerical identification.  Since the 1980s, has used a number row to indicate year of publication and printing.

Ballantine Books: In general, hardcover editions stated “First Edition(Month & Year)” or “First Printing(Month & Year)”; paperback originals carried no statement on the copyright page for the first printings, later printings were noted.

A.S. Barnes: According to the publisher, has noted later printings on the copyright page since at least 1976. Prior to this, designation of later printings were erratic. Does not use a first-edition statement.

Bobbs-Merrill: Prior to the 1920s, sometimes used a bow-and-arrow design on the copyright page of its first editions; after 1920, generally stated “First Edition” or “First Printing”. (but not consistent in either practice).

Bodley Head: States “First Published 19..” or “First Published in Great Britain 19..”; subsequent prints would presumably be noted.

Boni & Liveright: May have occasionally stated first edition, but in general the absence of a later printing statement indicates a first edition.

Brentano’s: Prior to 1928, no statement on first editions; subsequent printings noted. In 1928, began stating “First printed 19..” on copyright page of first editions and continued nothing subsequent printings.

A.L. Burt: Primarily a reprint publisher, but published the first US Edition of PG Wodehouse’s Man with Two Left Feet (states first edition on the copyright page). For those authors whose first editions have become very high priced, AL Burt reprints in dust wrappers closely matching the first edition’s are sometimes desirable.

Jonathan Cape: States “First Published(Year)” or “First published in Great Britain(Year)” on copyright page of first editions; subsequent printings noted.

Cassell & Co: Prior to the early 1920’s, put the year of publication on the title page of the first edition and left the copyright page blank; subsequent printings would presumably be noted or carry a later date on the copyright page. In the early 1920s, began stating book “First Published(Year)” or “First published in Great Britain(Year)” on copyright page of first editions; subsequent printings noted.

John Day Co: / John Day in association with Reynal and Hitchcock [1935-38] / John Day & Co. First few years (beginning in 1928) may have stated “First Published (Month, Year)” on first editions and noted later printings. In the 1930s, switched to designating only later printings(No statement on first editions). In the 1970s, began using a number row. (In the late 1970s, may have added a first-edition statement to the number row.)

Delacorte Press / Seymour Lawrence: Presently uses a number row; previously stated “first printing” or “first American printing”.

Dial Press: Although occasionally stated “First Printing” prior to the mid-1960s, did not list subsequent printings. In general, first editions published prior to the mid-1960s can be identified by the presence of the same date on the title page and the copyright page(also true for books published before the mid-1930s with the imprint “Lincoln MacVeagh/The Dial Press). In the late 1960s, began stating “First Printing (year)” on first editions and noting subsequent printings. Currently uses a number row.

Dodd, Mead: Prior to 1976, no statement on first editions, and often subsequent printings were not noted. In late 1976, added a number row to most titles (occasionally deleting the row from subsequent printings and replacing it with a later printing statement). Note: According to Firsts magazine, in the 1970s, first printing dust wrappers of some mystery titles were issued without a price on the flap, making them appear to be book-club editions.

George H. Doran: Started around 1910 and did not included a first-edition statement through 1921 or so. After this it generally placed a colophon with the initials “GHD” on the copyright page of the first printings, which were not identified. Occasionally, stated “first printing”. Merged with Doubleday in 1927.

Doubleday & Co: (Established in 1946.) States “first edition” on copyright page; no statement on later printings.

Doubleday & McClure Co.: (1897-1900). In general, the date on the title page should match last date on the copyright page of a first edition.

Doubleday, Doran & Co.: (1927-1946) States “first edition” on copyright page; no statement on later printings.

Doubleday, Page & Co.: Before the early 1920s, no statement on the first edition. In early 1920s, began stating “first edition,” but may not have used any statement on books first published outside the U.S.(no statement on later printings).

E.P. Dutton: Prior to 1929, the date on the title page should match the last date on the copyright page of a first edition. In the 1930s, began stating “First Edition” or “First Printing”. In recent years, added a number row(it adjusts the numbers for subsequent printings, but often fails to remove the first-edition statement.

Funk & Wagnalls: Used a Roman numeral “1” (I) on the copyright page of first editions. According to the publisher’s statements, beginning in 1929, stated “First Published(Month, Year)” on first editions and noted subsequent printings(presumably no statement on first editions published prior to 1929). But the first edition of John Cheever’s The Enormous Radio, published in 1953, has the roman numeral “1” and does not have a first-edition statement.

Grove Press: First editions and subsequent printings are noted on the copyright page; currently uses a number row. Later printing dust wrappers are identifiable by small letter code on the rear panel(e.g., “ii” designates a second printing dust wrapper).

Harcourt, Brace & Co: (1921-1960.) From 1921 to 1931 did not state on first printings. In about 1931 started putting “First Edition” or “First American Edition” on the copyright page. In many instances, it did not state later printings but took the first edition statement off after the first printing. Occasionally, through the 1940s, it would use a “1” on the first printing, the “1” was removed for later printings.

Harper & Brothers: Prior to 1912, the date on the title page should match the last date on the copyright page. Began stating “First Edition” on the copyright page in 1922. A letter code for the month and year of publication was introduced in 1912. In most cases for the first editions published between 1912 and 1922, the letter code for the year on the copyright page should match the date on the title page. Months:(The Letter “J” was not used): A=Jan.; B=Feb.; C=March; D=April; E=May; F=June; G=July; H=August; I=Sept.; K=October; L-Nov.; M=Dec. Years(the letter “J” was not used) M=1912; n=1913....through Z=1925. A=1926 through Z=1950. A=1951....

Harper & Row: States “First Edition” on the copyright page (also see month and date code above). In the late 1960s, added a number row to the bottom of the last page(directly before the rear free endpaper) but often failed to remove the “First Edition” statement from later printings. By the mid-1970s, the number row was usually placed on the copyright page (still often failed to remove “First Edition” statement from later printings).

Harper Collins: (Harper & Row changed its name to Harper Collins in 1990). States “First Edition” and uses a number row that indicates the year of publication and printing(may sometimes fail to remove the “First Edition” statement from later printings).

Houghton, Mifflin: Almost invariably places the date, in arabic numerals, on the title page of first printings, removing it on subsequent printings. Additionally, in the late 1950s, began consistently placing a “first printing” statement on the copyright page. In the early 1970s, replaced the “first printing” statement with a number row, which includes a manufacturer code.

Alfred A. Knopf: Until 1933-1934, sometimes stated “Published(Month or Year)” on the copyright page of first editions; later printings were noted. Since 1933-1934 has consistently stated “First Edition”(with the possible exception of Children's books). Books with “First and second printings before publication” on the copyright page are second printings(e.g. booksellers’ demand warranted a second printing prior to the publication date).

J.B. Lippincott: Until mid-1920s, the date on the title page should match the date on the copyright page, but in the case of “fall titles”, the date on the title page may predate the one on the copyright page by one year. Beginning in roughly 1925, sometimes placed a first edition statement on the copyright page but always indicated later printings(or impressions). In the mid-1970s, added a number row to the first edition statement.

Little, Brown: Prior to the early 1930s, no statement on first editions, but subsequent printings noted. In the 1930s, stated “Published (Month)(Year)” on the copyright page of first editions; later printings were normally indicated. Since 1940, has stated “First Edition” or “First Printing” and added a number row in the late 1970s.

Horace Liveright, Inc. / Liveright Publishing Corp.: Prior to the 1970s, in general, no statement on first editions, but subsequent printings noted(may have occasionally used a first edition statement). In recent years, may have used a number row in addition to stating “First Edition”.

The Macmillan Co./Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc(US): Prior to the late 1800’s, the date on the title page should match the last date on the copyright page for first editions(did not always designate later printings, but did change the date on the verso of the title page). Beginning sometime in the late 1800s, usually placed the statement “Set up and electrotyped. Published (Month, Year)” on First Editions, and generally indicated subsequent printings. Mid-year 1936, began stating “First printing” on the copyright page; added a number row in the 1970’s.

Scribners: Until 1930, the Scribners seal and the date of publication (month and year) generally appeared on First Editions, and subsequent printings were usually noted(although the company did not strictly adhere to either practice). In 1930, it started using an “A” on the copyright page to denote the First Edition, sometimes with the Scribner Seal, and sometimes with a code representing the month and year of Publication and the book’s manufacturer(later printings were either not noted or were indicated with a “B”, etc.). In the 1970s, added a number row, which includes a letter code for the manufacturer and type of binding(at the center).

Simon & Schuster: Until 1952, no statement on first editions, but subsequent printings noted (possibly with symbols, as, reportedly, a few titles in the 1930s carried a series of dots or asterisks on the copyright page to indicate additional printings). In 1952, began using a first-edition statement. In the early 1970s, began using a number row (occasionally with a first edition statement).

Viking Press: Until the late 1930s, no first edition statement, but subsequent printings noted. In 1937, began stating “First Published by Viking in (Year)” or “Published by Viking in (Year)” on first editions, and continued the practice of nothing subsequent printings. In the 1980s, added a number row to later printings only.

As this is just a small list of Publishers, please check back often as we will add more Publishers each week.