How to identify a first printing
- No statement of printing on the copyright page of firsts; later printings designated 'second printing', etc.
- Therefore: absence of any later-printing notice = first printing (for the vintage era).
- From the 1970s (revived Liveright): a number line with '1' present indicates a first.
Notable points & cautions
- Originated the Modern Library series before selling it to Bennett Cerf/Random House in 1925 — a key bibliographic crossover.
- Major 1920s modernist house (Eliot's 'The Waste Land', Hemingway's 'In Our Time' US, Faulkner, Pound, Hart Crane) — these high-spots have detailed title-level points.
- Boni & Liveright (1917-1928) → Horace Liveright Inc. (1928-1933) → Liveright Inc.; the imprint name on the title page dates the copy.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Boni & Liveright, Horace Liveright Inc., Liveright Publishing, Modern Library (early, before sale to Random House). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Boni & Liveright / Horace Liveright book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. No statement of printing on the copyright page of firsts; later printings designated 'second printing', etc. Therefore: absence of any later-printing notice = first printing (for the vintage era).
Does Boni & Liveright / Horace Liveright use a number line?
Therefore: absence of any later-printing notice = first printing (for the vintage era).
Is a book-club edition a Boni & Liveright / Horace Liveright first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Originated the Modern Library series before selling it to Bennett Cerf/Random House in 1925 — a key bibliographic crossover.
What era does this cover?
This covers Boni & Liveright / Horace Liveright (1917-1933 (revived 1970s+)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.