How To Identify First Edition Books
Why is it important? First Edition books are sought after by collectors and will command the highest prices. Like works of art, First Edition Books represent a moment in time that will never be repeated.
What is an Edition? An edition represents all the printings of the book with one typeset and no significant changes to the text or type style between printings.
What is a first edition? A first edition is an edition of a book that has never been published before. There is a more important question to ask and answer.
What is the printing number of the first edition? This is a single batch printing of a book. It is an important question if you are a collector of first edition books. Why? Because it is the most important factor (other than condition) for a collector and it is what adds value to the book over time.
A first edition, first printing simply indicates this book was included in the initial publication for sale. A first edition may have multiple printings. A publisher’s first run (printing) will often include a limited number of books, until it is determined how many are likely to sell.
If a publisher’s first printing includes 25,000 copies then that is a first edition, first printing – usually noted as first/first or 1st/1st or FE/FP. When the publisher has another printing run, with no notable changes to the text or type style it is considered a first edition, second printing – usually noted as first/second or 1st/2nd or FE SP.
The printing number is usually identified by a series of numbers or letters on the copyright or dedication page (see below). There are several options for this such as: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10; 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1; 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2; or letters A B C D E F G H I J. The lower number indicates the printing edition so any number line that contains a 1 is a First Edition, First Printing. There is one known exception to this – Random House begins the First Edition, First Printing with the number 2.
How to you identify a First Edition and the Printing number? 
Most books have a Copyright or Dedication page (see picture). This page will indicate much about the book, including the number line described above. This page will also contain the publisher’s name, sometimes a brief biography of the author, the copyright date and other credit information.
Some publishers simply state the book is a First Edition, First Printing or First Impression. Other publishers First Published followed by a year – if there are no further printings indicated with subsequent dates, then most likely the book is a First Printing.
When there is a NAP indication it means there were No Additional Printings.
There are some book sellers that state a book as a First Edition, First Printing when it is not. For example, Book Club Editions are budget reprints even though they may say – First Print.
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