How to identify a first printing
- First editions either carry NO additional printing statement on the copyright page or state "First published [Year]" — practice was not fully consistent, so confirm with jacket/ad dating
- Later printings noted with impression lines; their absence supports a first
- Collins Crime Club titles: rely on dust-jacket advertisement dating and absence of reprint notation; Crime Club firsts have well-catalogued jacket points
- After 1990 (HarperCollins) follow HarperCollins number-line conventions
Notable points & cautions
- Collins Crime Club is the key collecting area: Agatha Christie's main UK publisher — Christie firsts are identified largely by FIRST-ISSUE DUST JACKETS and price, not always a clean copyright statement
- The inconsistent copyright-page practice makes jackets and advertisement dating essential for Collins firsts
- Fontana was the mass-market paperback line (not trade firsts)
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Collins Crime Club, Fontana (paperback), Fontana/Collins, Grafton, HarperCollins (successor from 1990), Collins Children's, Armada (children's paperback). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my William Collins, Sons & Co. (Collins) book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. First editions either carry NO additional printing statement on the copyright page or state "First published [Year]" — practice was not fully consistent, so confirm with jacket/ad dating Later printings noted with impression lines; their absence supports a first
Does William Collins, Sons & Co. (Collins) use a number line?
Later printings noted with impression lines; their absence supports a first
Is a book-club edition a William Collins, Sons & Co. (Collins) first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Collins Crime Club is the key collecting area: Agatha Christie's main UK publisher — Christie firsts are identified largely by FIRST-ISSUE DUST JACKETS and price, not always a clean copyright statement
What era does this cover?
This covers William Collins, Sons & Co. (Collins) (1819-1990 (independent); HarperCollins thereafter). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.