Book Printing Edition Numbers

If the number one has been removed so the number line is 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 it is a.

Book printing edition numbers. Sometimes the number row is accompanied by a first edition statement often it is not. 75 76 77 78 79 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2. The next 7 500 copies was the second printing.

A variation on that theme is the letter row. Also known as a printer s key or publisher s code the number line is a string of numbers printed on the copyright page and it is used to indicate the print run for the book. So if you ask the printer to print 10 000 copies of a book and then you sell them all and go back and ask for another 7 500 copies the first 10 000 copies was the first printing.

While a limited edition copy of a book is usually noted on the cover or copyright page you can check the isbn listed above the barcode. The idea here is an elimination game. With each printing the publisher removes a number from the line of numbers.

They are often printed in descending order 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 and the lowest number generally indicates the printing of that particular copy. Sometimes the number line is also accompanied by the words first edition but be careful because some publishers leave on the words first edition even when the book is in its third printing and that fact is reflected in the three in this number line. If the copyright page does not say what edition you have but still has that string of numbers check the date on the page.

Remember that even if the lowest number is 2 3 or whatever if the publisher is still using the original typeset then the copyright page may still say first edition. Those two printings are in the same edition. Determine if the isbn is for a limited edition.

Here is a quick run down of how to identify book club editions. So if 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 is at the bottom of the page it is a first printing. While different publishers use different conventions for these number lines generally speaking the smallest number in the line indicates a books printing.