How to identify a first printing
- First printing: a 'First Edition' statement and/or a number line whose lowest digit is 1 on the copyright page. Titles published 2008-2024 follow HarperCollins house style; titles from 2024 forward follow Macmillan Children's house style
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 2008 by Alessandra Balzer and Donna Bray as a HarperCollins imprint
- Moved from HarperCollins to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group effective April 2024, so the parent house and its copyright-page conventions differ before and after that date
- For both eras the number line, not a possibly-retained 'First Edition' statement, is the deciding evidence
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Balzer + Bray book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. First printing: a 'First Edition' statement and/or a number line whose lowest digit is 1 on the copyright page. Titles published 2008-2024 follow HarperCollins house style; titles from 2024 forward follow Macmillan Children's house style
Does Balzer + Bray use a number line?
First printing: a 'First Edition' statement and/or a number line whose lowest digit is 1 on the copyright page. Titles published 2008-2024 follow HarperCollins house style; titles from 2024 forward follow Macmillan Children's house style
Is a book-club edition a Balzer + Bray first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 2008 by Alessandra Balzer and Donna Bray as a HarperCollins imprint
What era does this cover?
This covers Balzer + Bray (2008-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.