How to identify a first printing
- Stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page typical for literary titles
- Descending number line ending in 1 on first printings (modern standard)
- Originally founded 1994 (Jack Shoemaker / Frank Pearl, Washington DC), reconstituted in Berkeley; complex lineage merging Counterpoint, Shoemaker & Hoard, and Soft Skull — current Counterpoint dates to 2007 consolidation
- Read stated-first and number line together
Notable points & cautions
- Corporate history is tangled (Perseus-era Counterpoint, Shoemaker & Hoard, then 2007 Berkeley consolidation under Charlie Winton) — the imprint name on the title page dates the era but identification convention is constant
- Distributes/published with Soft Skull and (formerly) Catapult under the same group; each carries its own imprint name but conventional identification
- No proprietary house key
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Counterpoint, Soft Skull Press, Catapult (former), Shoemaker & Hoard (antecedent). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Counterpoint Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page typical for literary titles Descending number line ending in 1 on first printings (modern standard)
Does Counterpoint Press use a number line?
Descending number line ending in 1 on first printings (modern standard)
Is a book-club edition a Counterpoint Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Corporate history is tangled (Perseus-era Counterpoint, Shoemaker & Hoard, then 2007 Berkeley consolidation under Charlie Winton) — the imprint name on the title page dates the era but identification convention is constant
What era does this cover?
This covers Counterpoint Press (1994–present (consolidated 2007)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.