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There is a considerable debate amongst collectors about what truly defines a First Edition, however, here are some general rules about book collecting to help you understand what you're looking at here on the site. We have also noted a glossary of terms below which you will see used throughout the site.
WHAT’S A FIRST EDITION?
A first edition is the first commercially distributed version of a book. The label “first edition” is used for modern collectible books and is shorthand for the first printing of the first edition of work. They are prized because they are as close to the source as you can get. The earliest version of the book is in fact, the author’s manuscript.
To complicate things, books are often published in different countries around the world for distribution in that country. You may have a UK First Edition and a US First Edition released at the same time. Collectors will generally hold more value in the edition that is published in the author’s home country.
WHAT IS MEANT BY PRINTING (or IMPRESSION)? :
When you see a book described as “First Edition, Second Printing” this is talking about the second print run of the book. Books may require many printings as the number of copies original printed is sold out (for example, the first print run for Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone was only 500 - hence one from that batch fetching £28,000 at auction (BBC link). Later printings are generally less valuable. First edition, first printing’s can sometimes be so scarce that they aren’t economically feasible for many collectors. Later printings can still hold considerable value.
SUBSEQUENT EDITIONS :
Sometimes alternative editions of a book are produced. Usually it is a different presentation of the same work. This could be a special release of an illustrated edition or deluxe edition. These releases will also have a first printing, the first printing of these subsequent releases is referred to as “First Thus”.
IDENTIFYING A FIRST EDITION :
Identifying a first edition can require a bit of detective work. Publishers use a variety of different methods. Sometimes they simply state “first edition” or “first printing”. Another common method of identification is the number line on the copyright page. Usually, if “1” is present in the line then it’s a first edition. This has mainly been used since World War II. The numbers could be in any order, but it must contain a 1. The lowest number in the sequence tends to relate to the print run e.g. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 = 3rd printing. Sometimes a first edition can only be identified by a mistake in the book’s text itself that is corrected in later editions!
GLOSSARY :
FIRST EDITION: First printing of the first edition of work
LATER EDITIONS: substantially updated text, illustrated, deluxe etc.
PRINTING/IMPRESSION: print run number, 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc.
FIRST THUS: First edition of a new edition (illustrated, deluxe etc.)
FOXING: age deterioration that causes brown spots on books. Although unsightly, it does not affect the integrity of the paper.
Sources: biblio.com abebooks.com
