How to identify a first printing
- First printings state 'First Edition' on the copyright page.
- The printing is read from the lowest number present in the number line, not from the direction of the row. The Tinkers first printing, for example, carries the line '1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2' (odd ascending then even descending), so the presence of the '1' — not a row that 'ends in 1' — marks the first printing.
- Later printings drop the lower numbers.
Notable points & cautions
- Nonprofit press affiliated with the Bellevue Literary Review / NYU School of Medicine, founded 2007, publishing at the intersection of the arts and sciences.
- Published Paul Harding's first novel Tinkers (2009), which won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction; the small first printing (about 3,500 copies) was reprinted many times, so the number line is decisive for identifying a true first.
- Convention here is the modern US trade default rather than a house rule documented in the standard references; medium confidence.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Bellevue Literary Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. First printings state 'First Edition' on the copyright page. The printing is read from the lowest number present in the number line, not from the direction of the row. The Tinkers first printing, for example, carries the line '1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2' (odd ascending then even descending), so the presence of the '1' — not a row that 'ends in 1' — marks the first printing.
Does Bellevue Literary Press use a number line?
The printing is read from the lowest number present in the number line, not from the direction of the row. The Tinkers first printing, for example, carries the line '1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2' (odd ascending then even descending), so the presence of the '1' — not a row that 'ends in 1' — marks the first printing.
Is a book-club edition a Bellevue Literary Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Nonprofit press affiliated with the Bellevue Literary Review / NYU School of Medicine, founded 2007, publishing at the intersection of the arts and sciences.
What era does this cover?
This covers Bellevue Literary Press (2007–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.