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Are you looking through your bookshelves wondering if you have any valuable first-edition printings? First editions are the original releases of a book, and publishers use a few different ways to mark what version you have in your collection. Luckily, you’ll be able to tell if you have a coveted first edition just from the book’s copyright page, and we’ll point out exactly what to look for. Keep reading for all the signs that your book is a first edition and how to tell if it’s worth a lot of money to collectors.
Things You Should Know
- Check if the words “First Edition” are printed anywhere on the copyright page at the front of the book.
- Look for print run numbers, like "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9" or "9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1," on the copyright page. If there’s a 1 somewhere in the line, then you have a first edition.
- Compare the copyright date to the original publishing date of your book. If they’re the same, then it’s most likely a first edition.
Steps
Expert Q&A
Tips
- Books typically need a new ISBN any time a new edition is printed, but it may not always be the case. Search online for the book title followed by “first edition ISBN” to find out the correct 10- or 13-digit number. If the ISBN on your book’s copyright page or barcode matches, then it could be a first-edition copy.[9]Thanks
- Every publisher denotes first-edition books differently. Get A Pocket Guide to the Identification of First Editions by Bill McBride to easily reference how to check the copyright page for each publisher.[10]Thanks
References
- ↑ https://nereg.lib.ms.us/how-to-tell-if-a-book-is-a-first-edition/
- ↑ https://nereg.lib.ms.us/how-to-tell-if-a-book-is-a-first-edition/
- ↑ https://stephenking.com/other/identifying_first_editions.pdf
- ↑ https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/19-01.pdf
- ↑ https://www.peterharrington.co.uk/blog/do-misprints-or-typos-make-a-book-valuable/
- ↑ https://www.fedpo.com/BookDetail.php/Harry-Potter-Phil-Stone
- ↑ https://www.higheredgeek.com/blog/how-to-tell-if-your-antique-book-is-a-first-edition
- ↑ https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/19-01.pdf
- ↑ https://discworldmonthly.co.uk/An_Idiots_Guide_To_Identifying_Discworld_Novel_First_Editions.pdf
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