The fastest check: Edition statement on title/copyright page
How to identify a first printing
- Edition statement on title/copyright page
- Number line (modern era)
- Absence of later-printing notice (older titles)
Decode the printer's key: paste the number line into the number-line decoder, or run any book through the first-edition identifier.
Notable points & cautions
- Academic-press conventions; printing distinctions matter less to scholarly buyers than to literary collectors.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Cambridge University Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Edition statement on title/copyright page Number line (modern era)
Does Cambridge University Press use a number line?
Number line (modern era)
Is a book-club edition a Cambridge University Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Academic-press conventions; printing distinctions matter less to scholarly buyers than to literary collectors.
What era does this cover?
This covers Cambridge University Press. Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.