How to identify a first printing
- Pre-1970s: NO first-edition statement; first printings identified by the ABSENCE of any later-printing notation on the copyright page. Later printings were noted.
- 1970s onward: began using both a number row AND the words 'First Edition'.
- From c.1980: stated 'First Edition' together with a descending number line ending in 1 — the modern reliable test.
- Trade imprints (Clarkson Potter, Harmony, Three Rivers) follow Crown/RH-family convention: 'First Edition' + number line to 1.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1933 (out of the remainder firm Outlet Book Company); known for affordable trade and reference titles.
- Acquired by Random House 1988; now the Crown Publishing Group within Penguin Random House.
- Pre-1970s identification is easy to get wrong — rely on absence-of-reprint-line logic, not on a stated 'First Edition' that won't be there.
- Three Rivers Press is largely a trade-paperback reprint line — usually NOT a true first.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Harmony Books, Clarkson Potter, Three Rivers Press, Crown Forum, Crown Archetype, Broadway Books (later), Hogarth (US), Watson-Guptill (former), Bell Publishing, Crown Business. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Crown Publishers book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Pre-1970s: NO first-edition statement; first printings identified by the ABSENCE of any later-printing notation on the copyright page. Later printings were noted. 1970s onward: began using both a number row AND the words 'First Edition'.
Does Crown Publishers use a number line?
1970s onward: began using both a number row AND the words 'First Edition'.
Is a book-club edition a Crown Publishers first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1933 (out of the remainder firm Outlet Book Company); known for affordable trade and reference titles.
What era does this cover?
This covers Crown Publishers (1933–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.