The terms, precisely
These five words get used loosely, but they mean specific things — and getting them right is the whole of first-edition identification.
- Edition — all copies printed from substantially the same setting of type. A new edition means the type was reset (new typesetting, often new content).
- Printing (impression) — all copies run off at one time from that setting. The first printing of the first edition is what collectors mean by a “first edition.” A second printing is the same edition, printed again later.
- State — a difference introduced during the print run (a typo caught and corrected partway through), creating an earlier and later state of the same printing.
- Issue — a difference introduced after publication as a deliberate act (a cancelled title page, a new binding, a remainder issue), creating a first and second issue.
Why it matters
“First edition” in the trade is shorthand for first edition, first printing, first state, first issue. A book can be a first edition but a later printing — same setting of type, run again — and worth a fraction of a true first. The points of issue are the specific features that pin down the first printing/state/issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is a first edition the same as a first printing?
Not exactly. The first edition is the first setting of type; the first printing is the first run from it. A true collectible 'first edition' is the first edition AND first printing. Later printings of the same edition are far less valuable.
What is the difference between a state and an issue?
A state is an in-press change (a typo corrected mid-run); an issue is a post-publication change (a new title page or binding). Both create 'points' that distinguish the earliest copies.
How do I tell which printing my book is?
Check the copyright page for a number line or stated printing. Paste the number line into the number-line decoder. The lowest number present is the printing.