How does one identify a first edition? Each publisher has its own way of identifying first editions of its publications, and even those are not always consistent, especially when taken over a span of years or decades. Many state “First Edition,” usually on the copyright page, which is generally the back of the title page.
In the simplest terms, a first edition is the first commercially distributed version of a book. For the purposes of modern collectible books, first edition is shorthand for the first printing of the first edition of a work. There isn’t any one profile of the collector. How to Find First Edition Books: Getting Started. First things first: definitions and identification. A first edition is the very first cover, design, format, etc., that a book is published with. A first printing is the very first round of books printed. Call-Outs Call-out terms like ‘Best Selling ,’ ‘Award-Winning,’ or ‘Now a Major Motion Picture’ are all clear indicators that a book is not the first edition. After all, it’s been out long enough to top the charts, racking up awards, and be adapted into a movie. gsbGz.
