How to identify a first printing
- The Methodist Book Concern (founded 1789) and early Abingdon (imprint from the early 1900s): in the 19th and early 20th centuries no number line; identify firsts by copyright year and the absence of a reprint notice; some titles state an edition. The Methodist Book Concern imprint dates a book before about 1939.
- Abingdon-Cokesbury Press (1940-1954): the merged imprint name brackets this era; copyright year plus the absence of a reprint notice indicates a first printing, though printing statements are inconsistent.
- Abingdon Press (1954-present), mid-20th century onward: explicit printing and edition statements appear; later printings are noted by an added printing line or year.
- 1980s-present: standard number line on the copyright page; the lowest digit present indicates the printing, so a line including 1 indicates a first printing.
- Major reference sets (The Interpreter's Bible, The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, The New Interpreter's Bible) are heavily reprinted, so a first requires a clean impression line; the bookstore/retail brand Cokesbury on a binding may indicate the retail arm rather than the Abingdon imprint.
Notable points & cautions
- Abingdon Press is the book-publishing arm of the United Methodist Publishing House; its lineage traces to The Methodist Book Concern, established by John Dickins in 1789, the oldest church publishing house in the United States.
- Imprint-name chronology is a strong era tell: Methodist Book Concern (to about 1939), then Abingdon-Cokesbury Press (1940-1954, after the 1939 reunification of the northern and southern Methodist churches), then Abingdon Press (1954-present).
- It publishes major reference sets (The Interpreter's Bible, The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, The New Interpreter's Bible) that are heavily reprinted, so firsts require a clean impression line.
- The retail arm is Cokesbury; the Cokesbury name on a binding may indicate the bookstore/retail brand rather than the Abingdon imprint.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Abingdon Press, Dimensions for Living, formerly Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, formerly The Methodist Book Concern. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Abingdon Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. The Methodist Book Concern (founded 1789) and early Abingdon (imprint from the early 1900s): in the 19th and early 20th centuries no number line; identify firsts by copyright year and the absence of a reprint notice; some titles state an edition. The Methodist Book Concern imprint dates a book before about 1939. Abingdon-Cokesbury Press (1940-1954): the merged imprint name brackets this era; copyright year plus the absence of a reprint notice indicates a first printing, though printing statements are inconsistent.
Does Abingdon Press use a number line?
Abingdon-Cokesbury Press (1940-1954): the merged imprint name brackets this era; copyright year plus the absence of a reprint notice indicates a first printing, though printing statements are inconsistent.
Is a book-club edition a Abingdon Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Abingdon Press is the book-publishing arm of the United Methodist Publishing House; its lineage traces to The Methodist Book Concern, established by John Dickins in 1789, the oldest church publishing house in the United States.
What era does this cover?
This covers Abingdon Press (1789-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.