Its way beyond my expertise to go into all of the variations and possibilities, but here are some pointers. General guidelines for identifying a first edition number lines. How to tell the edition of a book examining other parts of the book research the differences between editions of the book. The value of a first edition will fluctuate with demand. You must determine what condition the book is in as mint, fine, good, poor or junk.
The best site on the net for info on rare stephen king books. As a result, people erroneously assume that the book is a first edition because only one date is given. You first must determine what edition you have as most prices quoted are for first editions only. The presence of a date on the title page alone may identify books published prior to the mid1800s as first editions. For publishers, first edition may just mean the first version of the text, without significant revisions. How to tell if you have a harry potter first edition set. Each book thats published, of course, has a first edition.
Presumably in the 1970s began using a first edition statement and number row. Number lines have been commonly used in the postworld war ii era. Depending on demand, any number of printings can be made from a setting of type for example, a first printing might consist of copies, followed by a second printing of 2500 copies. How can you tell if my book is a book club edition. By the time the fourth book in the series was released harry potter mania had well and truly taken hold and copies were printed by the millions. How to tell if a book is a first edition or valuable.
I worked in a bookshop when the first harry potter book came out john smith and sons, glasgow where jk rowling did her first book signing. However, to most booksellers and collectors, a true first edition is both the first typeset version of the book and the first printing. How to identify a first printing or first edition this is for private use only. However, book collectors generally use the term first edition to mean specifically the first print run of the first edition aka first edition, first impression. Older books are generally worth more money, but before you can determine the book s value you first need to determine when it was published. Typically, you will want to start with the page as a first glance. Books go through multiple printings over the years, and a first edition is going to bring you more money than a newer printing. Every book had a first printing, but not all of them are worth a fortune. This book lists the points of issue, the fine details a typo, binding color, dustjacket detail that may distinguish the first books printed in a first edition from later ones. Not every book has points of issue, but for many literary works which do, these differences can make a vast difference in value. If its from a small press, which often run one printing of their books, youre sometimes safe assuming what you have is a first edition unless otherwise. Lately, first edition has become widely accepted tto mean first edition, first printing when buying or selling books although, technically speaking, it shouldnt be. The most surefire way to determine the printing history of an oz book is to use the book collectors guide to l. How to identify first editions and care for old books.
The vast majority of first editions published before 1900 had the year of publication on the title page this is true for fiction and nonfiction titles. A first edition book can have multiple printings if the first printing sells out. Some books are issued by the publisher in two forms. Sometimes the word first edition will helpfully be printed on that page. I have a signed first edition 4th printing paperback with the errorsprinting features you describe except for the duplication of the word wand, it was used to read to many of my mums classes. This is how the printers key will appear in the first print run of a book. Look for the words first edition on the copyright page.
Includes identificaton criteria and points of issue to help collectors identify the original book. Some books are published in such huge quantities that first editions are very common. The majority of booksellers and collectors want the true first edition the edition of the book that supersedes all other editions chronologically and sometimes detective work is required to identify the true first. Pictures of the true first edition of harry potter and the sorcerers stone u. How to tell if i have a first edition copy of a book. At first this can become somewhat confusing because when a book becomes very popular and is often reprinted many times over a number. Prior to the 1970s, may have used a first edition statement with the exception of books produced outside the united states.
However, for a first edition to have value, there must be a demand for it. Many publishers will print the hardcover edition of a book and call that a first edition, then print the same text in paperback and call it a first edition as well. The beginners guide to identifying first editions book riot. The childrens picturebook price guide includes first edition identification points for twentynine of the books in the list click on the book s title to see first edition identification points for a particular book. But a first edition, first state is more desired and valuable among collectors, as a first edition usually is closest to the most original source. K rowing will have a much higher value even if it isnt an early edition or part of harry potter first edition set. According to the definition of edition above, a book printed today, by the same publisher, and from the same type as when it was first published, is still the first edition of that book to a bibliographer. A new version of the book is then typeset, which becomes the second edition. When the first edition of a book has a few typos or other small errors called points of issue, a second state of a first edition may be printed to correct these. If you find that the date on a book s page matches the date on. If it is the second printing then the 1 is removed, meaning that the lowest number seen will be. First edition copies state first edition on the page and the number sequence will be 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3. After you determine that you indeed have a first edition in your possession, then you have to research the potential value.
Adam blakeney, senior specialist in modern literature at peter harrington explains how to identify first editions. How to tell if you have a first edition copy of a book. On the other hand, if substantial changes are made to the book after its first printing. If not, the fact that its a first edition doesnt matter. The book on the bottom of this picture is the first state boards for the firm. How to identify first editions or a first printing of a book. There are thousands of publishers and they use a large variety of methods, which are often changed, to define first editions. How to determine when a book was printed pen and the pad. The book club edition also states first edition and has a full number line. Well, glenn larsens guide to first editions was one of the first internet documents i ran across about first editions and book club editions and reprint publishers and other items in the. Publishers will sometimes forget to remove the first edition words from the printing history as they go into subsequent printings, and the number line is the only way that you can really know that your copy is a first edition.
This can usually be determined by rudimentary checks though specialised bibliographies may need to be consulted book. Also, book club edition dust jackets dj are occasionally found on first editions to replace lost or damaged jackets. Trim size is given because book club editions are often smaller than trade editions. May have occasionally stated first edition, but in general, the absence of a later printing statement indicates a first edition. Presumably in the 1970s began using a first edition. Stephen king novels first edition identification guide use the search to the right to search for title, publication date, publisher, etc title and cover. If the initial print run of this first edition sells out and the publisher decides to produce a subsequent printing with the same typeset the book would be described as a first edition, second printing. Since theyre so plentiful, supply will remain high, and the prices will likely remain low. If the publisher sells out of the first run and goes back for another printing, that second printing is not considered true first editions, even if the page says it is. If the initial print run known as the first printing or first impression sells out and the publisher decides to produce a subsequent printing with the same typeset, books from that second print run can be described as a first edition, second printing. Numbers are removed with subsequent printings, so if 1 is seen then the book is the first printing of that edition. So if a book has had more than one printing, how can you tell which one you have and therefore whether or not your edition is a true first. There are genuine issue points on some jackets that determine the printing of the book but the biggest potential problem is when later state wrappers find their way onto first edition books.
Identifying, and valuing first edition dr seuss books. After 1985, began using a first edition statement and number row. Check the dust jacket to see if your book is a book club edition. For book collectors, first edition identification is a vital skill. This can be really easy sometimes or really complicated sometimes. Abebooks explains how to identify a first edition book. The estimated values in the table are for first edition books with dust jackets. Stephen king novels first edition identification guide. More often than not, conventions for distinguishing first editions vary from publishing house to publishing house.
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