The fastest check: First printing: a descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; the lowest digit indicates the printing
How to identify a first printing
- First printing: a descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; the lowest digit indicates the printing
- Many titles also state 'First edition [year]'
Decode the printer's key: paste the number line into the number-line decoder, search any title in the First Edition Checker, or run a book through the identifier.
Notable points & cautions
- Watertown, Massachusetts independent founded in 1989; known for STEM-rich nonfiction picture books
- Charlesbridge Teen launched in 2016; Imagine (acquired 2010) is the adult trade/nonfiction imprint; Charlesbridge Moves, built from the acquired Move Books and led by Eileen Robinson, debuted titles in 2024 as a high-interest middle-grade line that blends prose with graphic-novel inserts rather than a pure graphic-novel imprint
- Reliable modern number-line convention; little legacy ambiguity given the 1989 founding
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Charlesbridge, Charlesbridge Teen (YA, launched 2016), Imagine (adult trade/nonfiction), Charlesbridge Moves (middle-grade, from 2024). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Charlesbridge Publishing book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. First printing: a descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; the lowest digit indicates the printing Many titles also state 'First edition [year]'
Does Charlesbridge Publishing use a number line?
Many titles also state 'First edition [year]'
Is a book-club edition a Charlesbridge Publishing first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Watertown, Massachusetts independent founded in 1989; known for STEM-rich nonfiction picture books
What era does this cover?
This covers Charlesbridge Publishing (1989-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.