How to identify a first printing
- 1950s-1970s (Bethany Fellowship / Bethany Fellowship Press): small missionary-fellowship press; no number line. Copyright year and absence of a reprint notice indicate a first printing; printing statements are inconsistent.
- 1970s-1990s (Bethany House Publishers): explicit printing statements and additive printing/year lines, with later printings noted. Janette Oke's prairie-romance firsts (from 'Love Comes Softly', 1979) fall in this era — identify by copyright year, the early printing line, and original cover art.
- 1990s-present: standard number line on the copyright page; lowest digit present equals the printing. A year line plus an impression line is typical; presence of 1 indicates a first printing.
- 2003-present (Baker era): copyright pages follow Baker Publishing Group conventions; number line, lowest digit equals the printing.
Notable points & cautions
- Grew out of Bethany Fellowship, a missionary training community near Minneapolis; the publishing arm was formalized as Bethany House and long the leading evangelical fiction (especially Christian romance) house.
- Acquired by Baker (Baker Book House / Baker Publishing Group); the sale was announced in late 2002 and completed in early 2003.
- Janette Oke is the signature author — 'Love Comes Softly' was published in 1979; her early firsts are the most collected Bethany titles, and later cover-art reissues are commonly mistaken for firsts.
- Distinct from Augsburg/Fortress despite both being Minnesota Lutheran-adjacent — Bethany is independent-evangelical, not denominational.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Bethany House (fiction & nonfiction), formerly Bethany Fellowship Press. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Bethany House Publishers book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1950s-1970s (Bethany Fellowship / Bethany Fellowship Press): small missionary-fellowship press; no number line. Copyright year and absence of a reprint notice indicate a first printing; printing statements are inconsistent. 1970s-1990s (Bethany House Publishers): explicit printing statements and additive printing/year lines, with later printings noted. Janette Oke's prairie-romance firsts (from 'Love Comes Softly', 1979) fall in this era — identify by copyright year, the early printing line, and original cover art.
Does Bethany House Publishers use a number line?
1970s-1990s (Bethany House Publishers): explicit printing statements and additive printing/year lines, with later printings noted. Janette Oke's prairie-romance firsts (from 'Love Comes Softly', 1979) fall in this era — identify by copyright year, the early printing line, and original cover art.
Is a book-club edition a Bethany House Publishers first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Grew out of Bethany Fellowship, a missionary training community near Minneapolis; the publishing arm was formalized as Bethany House and long the leading evangelical fiction (especially Christian romance) house.
What era does this cover?
This covers Bethany House Publishers (1956-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.