How can you spot a first edition book

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. You can buy a guide to identifying first editions to make some sense of the confusion. Most bookstores that deal in rare books, collectible books, and that sort of thing should be able to appraise the book for you. Collecting, identifying, and valuing first edition dr. Picture of the first edition page for harry potter and the sorcerers stone u. If the date of first publication doesnt match that of your edition then youre out of luck. If your copy is a 3rd printing, or a book club edition, it wont have the same value as a first edition. Macrae smith company, you can nearly always tell a first edition either by the absence of any reference to its being a later edition or by the use of first edition on the reverse of the title page. The string of numbers can be descending, as it is here, ascending, or in totally random order. Sometimes, a publishing company will not note a first edition but will note later editions. Generally speaking you should not see dates other than the original publication date. Remember when collecting first editions that condition and scarcity are the main contributing factors to the price of a book. Jul 31, 20 adam blakeney, senior specialist in modern literature at peter harrington explains how to identify first editions.

But i will tell you what, it must have came after the written. Clearly any mention of these terms indicates a reprint. If a book reads something like 3 5 7 9 8 6 4, then your book is not part of the first printing the example above indicates a third printing cycle. All of the copies printed from the first setting of type. First edition paperback may 12, 2003 by eric hill author, illustrator visit amazons eric hill page. A number 3 would indicate this first edition 3 4 5 6 7 8. How can you tell if you have a first edition dr seuss book.

You may see two dates such as a date and a first published date and these can differ slightly though not usually by more than a year. A big thing to look for when determining if a book is a first edition, or a book club edition is size. How to tell if a book is a first edition or valuable. The publication date is the natural starting point when when it comes to appraising your book. How to tell if you have a harry potter first edition set. An easy way to tell a bookseller is trying to get one over on you is if they try to sell you a laterthanfirst printing and call it a first edition. Collecting second editions if changes are made to a book after the first printing, the book would be described as a second edition. You can find detailed help on identifying book club editions here. A book can go through several print cycles, sometimes with edits that add in author notes or additional material, so the book in its. A popular book may have had dozens of additional printings causing its first printing to be the most valuable.

Down our ebook how to make a serious second income buying. For example, a number line that reads 5 6 7 8 9 indicates a fifth printing. Books published prior to around 1900 are somewhat more easily identified, as publishers generally put the date on the title page of the first edition, although sometimes it can be found on the last page of the book. The first time a publisher releases a new book, all copies of that book printed without major changes can be considered a first edition book. 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. His absolute favorite books of which he never tires.

Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Edition and printing can be used fairly interchangeably in talking about collectible books, especially in regard to modern fiction. Identifying first editions the new antiquarian the blog. 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. 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. How to tell if a book is a first edition or valuable book riot.

Are the books on your shelves or in your grandparents attic worth something. How to easily identify a modern first edition book youtube. Remember that different publishers have their own criteria. Oct 10, 2019 the main characteristics of a 1997 first edition first issue are a print line that reads 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 and the crediting of joanne rowling, not jk. How to identify first editions or a first printing of a book. The words first edition and first printing are often used more or less interchangeably in the book world, though really they shouldnt be. There may be exceptions, especially among the early books first. If a 1 is present in any sequence its usually a sign that the book is a first edition.

Depending on the comic book, there may have been multiple prints released. If a book is extremely popular, it will have a lot of printings and you might have to look more closely to find the print run number. Generally speaking, if the 1 is present, the book is a first edition first edition, first printing. Firstly its important to establish what actually constitutes a harry potter first edition. There are thousands of publishers and they use a large variety of methods, which are often changed, to define first editions. A first edition of this book, printed a year after the first edition yet still appearing the same visually, can reach. When a book is sold for the first time, that is called the books first edition. Quite simply, it is the initial printing of a book after the book proofadvance copy. Book club editions book of the month clubs often use the same printing plates as the original publisher, right down to the words first edition on the printing history. The publisher may actually state the words first edition or first printing on the page. Seuss books should also own a copy of first editions of dr. Some serious collectors will stop at nothing to track down the most rare and valuable first editions of classic, renowned works.

The definition of a first edition depends on who you are talking to. The beginners guide to identifying first editions book riot. First edition by eric hill and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. For more modern books, however, there began to be a trend towards putting this information on the page instead. Enter your book information on a book selling website to get an idea of the books worth. 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. The following table is an excerpt from our book the childrens picturebook price guide. As weve mentioned elsewhere, first edition means the first printing of a book. This book is perfect to help with this as they can point to each barn animal as they count along. The book club edition has plain boards which lack the embossed. Compare your book to the details of each book listed, comparing the publisher, year published, edition, condition, and any physical description of the. 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. Picture of the 1998 first edition dust jacket for harry potter and the sorcerers stone u.

Before anything else you should check to see if the book has first edition, first printing written inside the cover. In any kind of facetoface competition, first encounters or daily encounters, and even watching the news, you will spot the messages and emotions that people are really sendingwhether they know it or not. How to tell if you have a harry potter first edition set and. Abebooks explains how to identify a first edition book youtube. If the page tells you that the book is a first edition from william morrow and company, but the spine of the book tells you that it was published by walter j. Nov 08, 2012 the string of numbers can be descending, as it is here, ascending, or in totally random order. Jan 29, 2020 after you determine that you indeed have a first edition in your possession, then you have to research the potential value. A book club edition is far less valuable than the true first u. Could you become a successful antiques and collectables dealer. As the book series grew in popularity the later books were printed by the millions even on the first print run, so for the final books in the series first editions are not remotely rare. Modern firsts first edition of a book published after 1900. If the words first printing fp, first impression fi or first edition fe ar. The main characteristics of a 1997 first edition first issue are a print line that reads 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 and the crediting of joanne rowling.

Do you have these harry potter books lying around your house. Heres how to tell if what you re reading is a first edition or not. Rare bookseller peter harrington estimates that first edition hardbacks could be. If you are unfamiliar with the grading scale for book conditions you can find it on our used books page. If there are two or more books described as a first edition, then a collector will want to know which one is superior. How to identify first editions and care for old books.

Jun 27, 2017 five ways to spot if your harry potter books are worth a small fortune. Title author type language date edition publication. The simplicity of the stories, the relevance to a 2 year olds life experiences together with the vibrant illustrations make the spot books an enduring series. Typically, the reprint house would label the tail of the spine with their company name. Compare your book to the details of each book listed, comparing the publisher, year published, edition, condition, and any physical description of the book. You can enter the title, author and publisher to begin your search. Look for the words first edition on the copyright page. This was an addition to extend the number of spot books my grandson in australia owns. Occasionally a number line will be accompanied by a date line. Publishers often reprinted using the same plates as the first, sometimes for years afterwards. 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.

There may be exceptions, especially among the early books first published and still in print during the 1930s. In any kind of facetoface competition, first encounters or daily encounters, and even watching the news, you will spot the messages and emotions that people are really sending. Youll find common and uncommon book terms, information about various book sizes, bindings, papers, first editions, and so much more. Seuss books 2002, by helen younger, marc younger, and dan hirsch. Adam blakeney, senior specialist in modern literature at peter harrington explains how to identify first editions. How to identify first editions book collecting guide. First printing, first impression, and first published are other ways of publishers stating the first edition. Sometimes publishers include the words first edition next. To identify what printing you have, look for the lowest number in the string. Five ways to spot if your harry potter books are worth a. Jan 17, 2016 remember that different publishers have their own criteria.

You ll find common and uncommon book terms, information about various book sizes, bindings, papers, first editions, and so much more. A first printing in collectors terms means the first printing of the first edition, so that when you see those words your research may well be over. How to tell if you have a harry potter first edition. Oct 03, 2018 how to tell if you have a harry potter first edition. How to tell if you have a first edition copy of a book. Remember that even if the lowest number is 2, 3, or whatever, if the publisher is still. A general rule is that if the number 1 is listed, the book is a first edition. The book is also made more fun by adding the element of popup fun. Find out how to tell if a book is a first edition with this handy. Anthropoligist cannot tell you that, but they can tell you the oldest evidence of a book which is not necessarily the first book. The advanced search option on the website includes more options than the basic form provided above. After you determine that you indeed have a first edition in your possession, then you have to research the potential value. The estimated values are for first edition books, with dust jackets. Expert tips to help you identify and collect first editions.

Picture of the back dust jacket for the first edition of harry potter and the sorcerers stone u. Books have tales to tell, and if youve stumbled on an old volume, you likely want to learn its history. Boards are purple with an embossed diamond pattern, and a red spine. A first edition is a book that has been printed and distributed for the first time.

Oct 30, 2019 if you find you have a first edition and are curious about the value, there are numerous places you can look. I can read you like a book gives you the fastest, most efficient method to read body language. Every book had a first printing, but not all of them are worth a fortune. You can have a first us printing, and a first uk printing, and a first canadian printing, but only the one that came to market before the others is the true first very important capital f there, and generally the true first is the one.

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. Heres how to tell if what youre reading is a first edition or not. When a list of matches comes up, carefully compare the attributes of your book to the attributes of the listed books. 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. For comic a comic book collector, authenticity is allimportant. The value of a first edition will fluctuate with demand. But they lack the embossed diamond pattern on the book boards. Still a good amount but a far cry from the what the true firsts can achieve. Sometimes, the publisher will clearly write which edition of the book you have on the bottom of the page. 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. Five ways to spot if your harry potter books are worth a small fortune. Publishers, bibliographers, researchers and librarians use the term first edition to mean a book reprinted without changes. For the second printing, the 1 is removed, so the 2 is the lowest number present. The children can lift the flaps spot can count is specifically designed to help young children learn to count and recognize putting an object with a number.