How to identify a first printing
- Copyright page states later printings/editions; a first printing carries the copyright line with no subsequent-printing notice. Modern titles add a number line where '1' = first printing.
- Revised and expanded editions are explicitly dated and numbered on the copyright page.
- Many translation series (e.g., Translations from the Asian Classics) are reprinted/revised — check the printing history line.
Notable points & cautions
- Standard academic convention: later printings noted rather than the first affirmatively marked (pre-number-line era).
- Wallflower Press (film studies) and other acquired imprints may show their own pre-Columbia printing history.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Columbia Classics in Asian Literature, Wallflower Press (film), Woodrow Wilson Center Press (distributed). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Columbia University Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Copyright page states later printings/editions; a first printing carries the copyright line with no subsequent-printing notice. Modern titles add a number line where '1' = first printing. Revised and expanded editions are explicitly dated and numbered on the copyright page.
Does Columbia University Press use a number line?
Revised and expanded editions are explicitly dated and numbered on the copyright page.
Is a book-club edition a Columbia University Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Standard academic convention: later printings noted rather than the first affirmatively marked (pre-number-line era).
What era does this cover?
This covers Columbia University Press (1893–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.