The fastest check: Use the descending number line on the copyright page; the lowest digit present indicates the printing, so a '1' indicates a first printing.
How to identify a first printing
- Use the descending number line on the copyright page; the lowest digit present indicates the printing, so a '1' indicates a first printing.
- No distinctive house first-edition statement is documented — rely on the number line rather than on wording.
- Acting-edition play scripts and anthologies are frequently reprinted; confirm the '1' is present and check for added printing notices.
Decode the printer's key: paste the number line into the number-line decoder, search any title in the First Edition Checker, or run a book through the identifier.
Notable points & cautions
- Theatre- and film-book specialist (play texts, screenplays, performing-arts reference); a performing-arts companion to Backbeat, Amadeus, and Limelight.
- Ownership chain dates the printing: Hal Leonard took a majority stake in 2000 and acquired the company fully in 2004, then sold it (with the other performing-arts imprints) to Rowman & Littlefield in December 2018; in 2024 Rowman & Littlefield sold Applause and several sisters to Bloomsbury.
- Collectible interest is title-specific (notable screenplay or theatre firsts).
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Applause Theatre & Cinema Books book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Use the descending number line on the copyright page; the lowest digit present indicates the printing, so a '1' indicates a first printing. No distinctive house first-edition statement is documented — rely on the number line rather than on wording.
Does Applause Theatre & Cinema Books use a number line?
No distinctive house first-edition statement is documented — rely on the number line rather than on wording.
Is a book-club edition a Applause Theatre & Cinema Books first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Theatre- and film-book specialist (play texts, screenplays, performing-arts reference); a performing-arts companion to Backbeat, Amadeus, and Limelight.
What era does this cover?
This covers Applause Theatre & Cinema Books (1980s-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.