How to identify a first printing
- Modern trade titles (1990s onward) carry a British-style number line on the copyright page; a first printing has the digit 1 present, e.g. '1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2' or '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'.
- Copyright page also states 'First published in [year] by Canongate Books Ltd' (Edinburgh address); a first state has no later-impression notice and a number line that still includes the 1.
- For high-spot modern firsts such as Yann Martel's 'Life of Pi', confirm both the 1 in the number line and the 'First published in Great Britain by Canongate' statement, and beware book-club and export states.
- Early Canongate (1970s-80s) titles predate consistent number lines; rely on the stated 'First published' year and the absence of any reprint notice.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1973 by Stephanie and Angus Wolfe Murray; near-collapse and a 1994 management buyout led by Jamie Byng revitalised it.
- 'Life of Pi' (Canongate) is the famous Canongate modern first and won the 2002 Booker Prize; dealers most commonly catalogue the UK Canongate first as 2002, though the date is easily confused with the 2001 Knopf Canada original edition, so verify the copyright-page statement rather than assuming a year.
- Pocket Canons (1998, Bible books with new introductions), Payback Press (1995), and Rebel Inc. (1996) are collectible 1990s imprints.
- Production and number-line consistency differ between the pre-1994 Wolfe Murray era and the post-Byng era, so identify the era before relying on a number line.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Canongate, Canongate Classics, Payback Press, Rebel Inc., Pocket Canons, Black Thorn (crime, launched 2019), Severn House (separate company acquired by Canongate in 2017). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Canongate Books book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Modern trade titles (1990s onward) carry a British-style number line on the copyright page; a first printing has the digit 1 present, e.g. '1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2' or '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'. Copyright page also states 'First published in [year] by Canongate Books Ltd' (Edinburgh address); a first state has no later-impression notice and a number line that still includes the 1.
Does Canongate Books use a number line?
Copyright page also states 'First published in [year] by Canongate Books Ltd' (Edinburgh address); a first state has no later-impression notice and a number line that still includes the 1.
Is a book-club edition a Canongate Books first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1973 by Stephanie and Angus Wolfe Murray; near-collapse and a 1994 management buyout led by Jamie Byng revitalised it.
What era does this cover?
This covers Canongate Books (1973-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.