How to find out the edition of a book

First Editions. Signed Books. Find Books Advanced search. What is a First Edition? The test here is to compare that copyright page with the information on the spine of the book. Typically, the reprint house would label the tail of the spine with their company name.

If the copyright page tells you that the book is a first edition from William Morrow and Company, but the spine of the book tells you that it was published by Walter J. Advanced review copies and other pre-production copies of a book may also share all of the printing history details as the first edition, but the cover of these editions almost invariably will state that it is an advanced review copy or galley, or something similar.

Much the same as reprint houses, book clubs will reproduce the entire book without any changes, and that reproduction includes the printing history. Book club editions can usually be identified as such by one of a few tell-tale signs. In most any hardcover modern work of fiction, the dust jacket has a price in the front flap.

For many decades book clubs would mark their editions with a blind stamp or colored deboss on the tail of the back board, near the spine. That little mark is a sure sign of a book club edition.

Not all publishers make specific mention of the first edition. In some cases, no indication to the contrary is the way that you can tell the first printing. That particular statement is something of a boast from the publisher, telling readers that the first edition sold out before the book was ever even released.

The first printing is the first edition. Once you have some level of confidence that your book is a first edition, you may be faced with a question of state. Some books went through some subtle but significant metamorphoses mid-print run. Sign up here. Ready for your next read? Home Articles Fiction How do I tell if my book is a first edition?

What is a first edition book? Should I care what edition my book is? Are all first editions valuable? Open book on table with books in the background How do I tell if my book is a first edition copy?

The Dates If the date on a copyright page matches the date on the title page, it's likely that your copy is a first edition. Signed books. Our booksellers. Media mentions. Link to us. Mailing lists. Find used books, rare books, textbooks, new and out-of-print books.