First Editions:

To begin with, we need to define what we mean by a first edition. The term “edition” refers to all of the copies of a book that are printed with the same set of plates or typeset. If any change or revision is made to the plates, then a second edition begins. An edition can go through several printings, which are periods of physical printing. A first edition is a book that was printed in the first printing, of the original, or “first,” edition. It is important to notice that the “printing” is important. Very often you will find a book that states it is a first edition on the copyright page, but with closer examination you will find that it was printed in a second or third printing. These later printings are not considered collectible and should not be listed as first editions.

Now that we know what a first edition is, which ones are worth researching? Choosing the right first edition books to research is a skill that requires time and practice and experience to master but here are some general rules of thumb that we follow:

For the most part, the value of nonfiction is not dependent on the edition of the book. You will see that some sellers try to sell first editions of common nonfiction at inflated prices; this will lead to stagnant sales. In general, the only first editions that are worth seeking out are collectable fiction titles.

We often find that the early works of common authors have great value in the first edition, because during the initial printing the demand for the works was low. When we are scouting, we will quickly sift through the fiction section looking for first editions from established authors. John Grisham and Stephen King are two well-known authors whose works are incredibly valuable if you find first editions.

You will look for first editions by examining the copyright page. This page is usually the third or forth page inside the front cover. On this page you will see a copyright date, author and printer information and ISBN numbers, along with the printing and edition information.

The edition may be designated in one of several ways. You may find, “First edition,” “First printing,” “First published,” or a reference regarding the “impression” being original. Unfortunately, publishers have not agreed upon a standard system of identification, making it harder for you, the bookseller.

In the case of older books, there is often a date printed on the title page along with the publisher’s name in large decorative font. If you compare this date to the date listed for the printing and the two match, then you have a reasonable indication that the book is a first edition. This is not a failsafe method but it works well when quickly scouting books.

Beginning in the 1940s, many publishing companies began using a number or letter line to designate the printing of a book. These lines look like this:

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

or

j i h g f e d c b a

The lowest number, or earliest letter, in these lines refers to the printing that the book belongs to. If the “1,” or “a,” is present, then you are looking at a first edition. If the number line ends in a five like this, 10 9 8 7 6 5, then we know that the book is from a fifth printing.

In order to be proficient in your identification you will need to acquire a reference library on first edition identification. See Starting a research library for the titles and descriptions of the books.

Next lesson, Old or rare books.