How to identify a first printing
- 1966-1970: The press's earliest titles were produced under the Oxford University Press imprint on behalf of the University of Auckland; the OUP imprint dates a title to this earliest period. A first printing shows 'First published [year]' with no reprint note.
- 1970-1986: Titles bear the joint 'Auckland University Press / Oxford University Press' imprint with 'First published [year]', '© [year]', and 'Printed in New Zealand'; a first printing is keyed by the matching year and the absence of a reprint line. The joint imprint is itself a strong dating tell for this window.
- 1986-present (independent): 'First published [year] by Auckland University Press' with a New Zealand National Library CIP block; from roughly the mid-1990s a descending number line (lowest digit = printing) accompanies the full ISBN/CIP data, so a complete line ending in 1 with no reprint note indicates a first printing. Number-line use follows the standard scholarly convention.
Notable points & cautions
- Began publishing in 1966 and was formally named Auckland University Press in 1972; New Zealand's leading scholarly and poetry press, with a major NZ poetry list.
- The relationship with Oxford University Press is a strong dating tell: earliest titles (1966-1970) carried the OUP imprint, and a joint AUP/OUP imprint ran 1970-1986 before full independence in 1986.
- Small print runs for poetry first editions make CIP and number-line confirmation important on the copyright page.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Auckland University Press, Auckland University Press / Oxford University Press (joint imprint, 1970-1986), Holloway Press (associated fine-press). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Auckland University Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1966-1970: The press's earliest titles were produced under the Oxford University Press imprint on behalf of the University of Auckland; the OUP imprint dates a title to this earliest period. A first printing shows 'First published [year]' with no reprint note. 1970-1986: Titles bear the joint 'Auckland University Press / Oxford University Press' imprint with 'First published [year]', '© [year]', and 'Printed in New Zealand'; a first printing is keyed by the matching year and the absence of a reprint line. The joint imprint is itself a strong dating tell for this window.
Does Auckland University Press use a number line?
1970-1986: Titles bear the joint 'Auckland University Press / Oxford University Press' imprint with 'First published [year]', '© [year]', and 'Printed in New Zealand'; a first printing is keyed by the matching year and the absence of a reprint line. The joint imprint is itself a strong dating tell for this window.
Is a book-club edition a Auckland University Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Began publishing in 1966 and was formally named Auckland University Press in 1972; New Zealand's leading scholarly and poetry press, with a major NZ poetry list.
What era does this cover?
This covers Auckland University Press (1966-present (publishing from 1966; formally named Auckland University Press 1972; independent of OUP from 1986)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.