Publishers each have their own way of identifying the first edition or more correctly first printing of any book they produce. Picture of the first edition page for harry potter and the sorcerers stone u. Nov 08, 2012 the string of numbers can be descending, as it is here, ascending, or in totally random order. A new version of the book is then typeset, which becomes the second edition.
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. Jan 17, 2016 remember that different publishers have their own criteria. As weve mentioned elsewhere, first edition means the first printing of a book. First edition points for a game of thrones by george r. How to identify first editions or a first printing of harry.
That bold declaration can t always be taken as authoritative, though. The idea is to get the book as it appeared in the bookstores the day it was released, says john larson, specialist in 19th and 20thcentury literature at swann auction galleries. First printing, first impression, and first published are other ways of publishers stating the first edition. The auction ended with a bid that was way higher than i imagined. First edition harry potter books have become very valuable. Theres only one writer who can tell such an intensely horrifying, psychotic tale of unspeakable abuse, grotesque torture, and horrendous serial murder with grace, sensitivity and classa riveting, taut, reallife psychological suspense thrill rideall at once compelling and original, gregg olsens if you tell is an instant true.
When your comic was published, and if it is a real first edition, can mean the difference between an investment and a waste of time and money. All following statements 1976, 1981, and 1988 are essentially the same. Not every book has points of issue, but for many literary works which do, these differences can make a vast difference in value. To determine a books provenancem you may have to be a bit of a deytective. The book collectors definition is the first printing of the first edition. Lately, first edition has become widely accepted tto mean first edition, first printing when buying or selling books although, technically speaking, it shouldnt be. 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. For example 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 indicates a first printing. Nov 17, 2006 to determine a book s provenancem you may have to be a bit of a deytective. Harry potter first editions harry potter at catch the snitch.
Here is how you can tell if you have an original and what it may be worth. Over the years there have been thousands of publishers, each using various methods for distinguishing a first edition. Identifying first editions the new antiquarian the blog. The dust jacket back on the left is likely from a book club edition of the first state of the u.
A big thing to look for when determining if a book is a first edition, or a book club edition is size. Copies of the prisoner of azkaban with joanne on the page instead of j. Can a first edition of a book be identified by its isbn. How to tell if you have a harry potter first edition set and. To check books without first edition slugs, use the article stalking the unmarked first. To tell the edition of a book, look at the bottom of the page.
Oct 06, 2011 first edition points for a game of thrones by george r. Use the search box above to find fond treasures from your childhood or that one book that has escaped your collection thus far. The first edition continues until the book is changed. A brief history of time by stephen hawking first edition points. Some serious collectors will stop at nothing to track down the most rare and valuable first editions of classic, renowned works.
The string of numbers can be descending, as it is here, ascending, or in totally random order. A book club edition is far less valuable than the true first u. Still a good amount but a far cry from the what the true firsts can achieve. Hardcover series books published by grosset and dunlap rarely state the year on the page, so most sellers think that most examples are the first printing when the book is nowhere near a first printing. A first edition of this book, printed a year after the first edition yet still appearing the same visually, can reach. Collectors distinguish between a first edition the first printing of a book and a modern first edition which moreorless applies to books printed from 1900 on although, the exact. Where abouts in the comic book does it tell you if its a first edition. Generally speaking, a first printing will have the same isbn as all subsequent printings, unless the book changes publishers, formats, or is reissued with some hoopla. Collectors use the term first edition as a short form of first printing of the first edition and that is how we will be using this term. How to identify first editions book collecting guide. If the publisher prints more copies of the identical book, those are not first editions. Rare books for sale, buy antique books from alibris. There are a number of ways that you can tell whether your comic book is a first edition or whether it is fake. First edition identification by publisher a g in the case of titles published before 1900, the key to first edition identification is often the date on the title page.
This is the extra passage from the first state of the u. But determining whether or not a modern book published in the 19th or 20th century post the invention of the printing press is in fact a true first edition book, in its most original form, can be a confusing and timeconsuming process. Youll find common and uncommon book terms, information about various book sizes, bindings, papers, first editions, and so much more. If a book is a first edition it will carry the notice first publishedfirst published in great britian 19if it is a reprint or a second or subsequent edition the original notice will be followed by reprinted 19 or second edition 19 as appropriate. If there are no other editions listed, the book you have is the first edition. Oct 03, 2018 a hardcover first edition of harry potter and the chamber secrets will often sell for thousands of pounds. To shed a little more light, the first time a publisher releases a new book all copies of that book that are printed without major changes can be considered a first edition. First edition24689753, to first editions, and removed the first edition statement from subsequent printings e. Alibris is one of the premier rare and outofprint book sites on the internet. 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. A hardcover first edition of harry potter and the chamber secrets will often sell for thousands of pounds. How to easily identify a modern first edition book youtube.
How to tell if a book is a first edition or valuable. Dec 27, 2012 how to tell if a comic book is a first, second, third or higher printing. The best site on the net for info on rare stephen king books. 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. To identify what printing you have, look for the lowest number in the string. This book has had the some of the language americanized, as evidenced by the title. We have thousands of rare and antique treasures brought to you by our network of trusted sellers from all around the world. Publishers, bibliographers, researchers and librarians use the term first edition to mean a book reprinted without changes. It does not apply to every comic book ever printed, but for the most part should be a useful tool for you if you are concerned about acquiring one printing over.
Sometimes the word first edition will helpfully be printed on that page, often described as first edition stated by booksellers. Heres how to tell if what youre reading is a first edition or not. How to tell if you have a first edition copy of a book. 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. 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. If you are among the few who happen to have a first printing first edition of the uk edition of the first book, which was called, harry potter and the philosophers stone, you really have a treasure. Picture of the 1998 first edition dust jacket for harry potter and the sorcerers stone u. For printings beyond the 10th, random house adds a 1 to the number line and a letter to its center so that, for instance, 2468b97531 would. This little book lists most publishers and uses a simplified code system based on.
Edition and printing can be used fairly interchangeably in talking about collectible books, especially in regard to modern fiction. The dust jacket on the right is from the true first state of the u. The definition of a first edition depends on who you are talking to. This image from mywingsbooks guide to bce demonstrates the subtle differences in the smaller size of hardcover bce books. How to tell if a comic book is a first, second, third or higher printing. If the word first edition is on the page with a number. How do you know if you have a first edition of a marvel comic. How you can tell the difference between a first edition, first printing, and a book club edition of a collectible book and why it matters. Can you tell me if my book is first edition and value.
First edition 24689753, to first editions, and removed the first edition statement from subsequent printings e. How can i tell if a book is a first modern library edition. All of the copies printed from the first setting of type. The sequence of the numbers varies between publishers but the basic principal remains the same apart from a few exceptions a first issue edition impression requires the presence of the number 1. A book can go through several print cycles, sometimes with edits that add in author notes or additional material, so the book in its original form during its initial release or first printing to the public is what is generally defined as a first edition by collectors and sellers. The beginners guide to identifying first editions book riot. In this example, the lowest number is 1, so i have a first edition, first printing. Lately, first edition has become widely accepted tto mean first edition, first printing when buying or selling books although, technically speaking, it.
How to identify first editions or a first printing of a book. A popular book may have had dozens of additional printings causing its first printing to be the most valuable. Remember that even if the lowest number is 2, 3, or whatever, if the publisher is still. Verify the books date using barry neavills dating key. In the world of book collecting, a first edition is generally considered to be the first appearance of a work, in its first printing. So, you have just entered the world of book collecting, and have probably. And nowhere can i find if the comics are first, second, third, whatever, editions. The first book was renamed harry potter and the sorcerers stone in the u. Signed first edition of the wonderful wizard of oz history duration. Bloomsbury publishing first printed the book in 1997. At first this can become somewhat confusing because when a book becomes very popular and is often reprinted many times over a number. To a book collector the phrase first edition refers to a book that was released during the first printing of the first edition they call this book a 1st1st. First, be aware that sometimes people mean one thing when they say first edition as in, the valuable copy of a book, but what they really mean is first printing.
Make sure that a book that does have a first edition slug hasnt carried the slug forward beyond the first printing by checking the table presented in the article false firsts. What i have learned is the general rule for telling if a comic is a first, second, third or higher printing. Firstedition identification by publisher ag in the case of titles published before 1900, the key to firstedition identification is often the date on the title page. The sequence of the numbers varies between publishers but the basic principal remains the same apart from a few exceptions a first issueeditionimpression requires the presence of the number 1. By far the most valuable book in the series is the first, harry potter and the philosophers stone, published on 30 june 1997 by bloomsbury in london.
A well looked after first edition copy of this book can usually be worth a few hundred pounds. The first harry potter book to be published was harry potter and the philosophers sorcerers stone. First edition identification would be an easy task if there were only one publishing house and they remained consistent in their printing methods over the years, but alas this is far from the case. Unless the author or publishers makes changes to the text, adds something like an appendix or authors note, or revises the text, there is only one edition from format to format. Books have tales to tell, and if youve stumbled on an old volume, you likely want to learn its history. Frequently there will be a list of previous printings. Some old books have the year printed on the page, so it is possible to tell how old the book is. Rowling s harry potter series has gained immense popularity, critical acclaim and commercial success worldwide, and first editions of her books have very quickly become collectable.