How to identify a first printing
- Founded 1925; named for William Caxton. Core rule: a first edition has the same date on the title page as on the copyright page, with no additional printings listed on the copyright page; any added printing line (for example, Second printing) disqualifies it.
- Look for the W.C. colophon/insignia on the colophon and spine. This is a house mark, useful for attribution rather than a per-printing edition tell.
- Modern Caxton Press titles may add a number line; a complete line ending in 1 indicates a first printing, used alongside the matching-date rule.
- The publishing division was 'Caxton Printers' until roughly 1995, then 'Caxton Press'; the imprint name helps date the book.
Notable points & cautions
- A pillar of Pacific-Northwest and Western Americana (Vardis Fisher, regional history); desirable firsts hinge on the title-page/copyright-date match with a clean copyright page showing no extra printings.
- Reprints of perennial sellers retained the same setting for years, so the absence of any added printing statement is the decisive point.
- Name change to 'Caxton Press' (around 1995) differentiated the publishing line from the parent company's printing and office-supply business.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Caxton Press (publishing division renamed ~1995). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my The Caxton Printers, Ltd. / Caxton Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Founded 1925; named for William Caxton. Core rule: a first edition has the same date on the title page as on the copyright page, with no additional printings listed on the copyright page; any added printing line (for example, Second printing) disqualifies it. Look for the W.C. colophon/insignia on the colophon and spine. This is a house mark, useful for attribution rather than a per-printing edition tell.
Does The Caxton Printers, Ltd. / Caxton Press use a number line?
Look for the W.C. colophon/insignia on the colophon and spine. This is a house mark, useful for attribution rather than a per-printing edition tell.
Is a book-club edition a The Caxton Printers, Ltd. / Caxton Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. A pillar of Pacific-Northwest and Western Americana (Vardis Fisher, regional history); desirable firsts hinge on the title-page/copyright-date match with a clean copyright page showing no extra printings.
What era does this cover?
This covers The Caxton Printers, Ltd. / Caxton Press (1925-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.