Edition Detective · Guides
Identifying first editions, house by house
Every publisher had its own habits. These guides set out what each one's copyright page tells you, and where it can mislead.
American publishers
Random House
Random House is the classic trap for number-line readers: for roughly three decades its first printings carried a number line that began with 2, not 1.
Number-line quirkAlfred A. Knopf
Knopf, with its borzoi device, has long marked first printings with a plain 'First Edition' statement.
Charles Scribner's Sons
Scribner's famous 'A' code is the key point for mid-century books, including many Hemingway and Fitzgerald titles.
Often unstatedHarper & Brothers / Harper & Row / HarperCollins
Harper used month-and-year letter codes early on, then 'First Edition' statements, and later sometimes kept that statement on reprints.
Statement retainedDoubleday
Doubleday states 'First Edition' on trade firsts, but it also ran the largest book-club operation, so book-club copies are everywhere.
Viking Press
Viking traditionally used a 'Published in YYYY by The Viking Press' line and listed later printings.
Little, Brown and Company
Little, Brown generally marks 'First Edition' but has at times retained the statement alongside a number line on later printings.
Statement retainedHoughton Mifflin
Houghton Mifflin was inconsistent for much of its history, so date-matching and later-printing notices matter more than statements.
Often unstatedFarrar, Straus & Giroux
FSG typically marks the first printing with 'First edition, [year]' or 'First printing, [year]'.
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster's practice changed several times; the number line is usually the most reliable guide for modern books.
Statement retainedG. P. Putnam's Sons
Putnam rarely stated first editions before the modern era, so the absence of a statement tells you little.
Often unstatedAtheneum
Atheneum generally states 'First Edition' on first printings.
Grove Press
Grove often issued simultaneous hardcover and paperback (Evergreen) editions, which complicates 'first edition' questions.
New Directions
New Directions practice is irregular, and many books were reprinted with minimal changes.
Often unstatedE. P. Dutton
Dutton generally states 'First Edition' on the first printing.
British publishers
Penguin Books
Most Penguins are reprints of hardcover firsts, but paperback originals and Penguin's own hardcover imprints can be true firsts.
Faber & Faber
Faber lists its printing history clearly, often with the date in roman numerals on older books.
Jonathan Cape
Cape printed 'First published [year]' and listed reprints; its Ian Fleming firsts are some of the most studied modern books.
Hamish Hamilton
Hamish Hamilton published many American authors in the UK, so 'first UK edition' is a common verdict.
Chatto & Windus
Chatto uses the familiar British 'Published by' / 'First published' line with reprints listed beneath.
Collins (William Collins)
Collins, publisher of the Crime Club and Agatha Christie, generally stated first publication and listed reprints.
Hodder & Stoughton
Hodder generally prints 'First printed [year]' with any reprints listed beneath.
Macmillan
Macmillan London and the separate Macmillan Company of New York had different practices; check the city.
Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury uses 'First published in Great Britain' and a descending number line; its Harry Potter firsts are heavily studied.
George Allen & Unwin
Allen & Unwin, Tolkien's publisher, lists impressions on the verso.
William Heinemann
Heinemann generally prints 'First published [year]' and lists reprints.
Victor Gollancz
Gollancz, known for its yellow jackets and science fiction list, states first publication and lists reprints.
Secker & Warburg
Secker & Warburg, Orwell's publisher, lists printing history on the verso.
Guidance compiled from standard collector references. Practice varied within houses and over time; always check a title-specific bibliography for valuable books.