How to identify a first printing
- Mass-market originals: copyright page shows a printing statement; a true first lists only 'First printing (date)' or a number line including 1 with no later printings.
- Delacorte Press hardcovers (the Dell trade-hardcover line) typically state 'First printing' / 'First Edition' and use a number line ending in 1.
- Older Dell mapbacks/paperbacks identified by series number and the absence of reprint notations rather than a stated edition.
- Modern Dell (PRH) uses a descending number line; presence of 1 = first.
Notable points & cautions
- Dell was historically a paperback/magazine house; Delacorte Press (est. 1921, revived as Dell's hardcover imprint) is where Dell hardcover firsts appear.
- Vintage 'Dell mapbacks' (1940s–50s, maps on rear cover) are collected by their series numbering.
- Became Bantam Doubleday Dell, then folded into Random House (1998) → Penguin Random House. Post-merger follows RH number-line convention.
- Yearling/Laurel-Leaf are children's/YA reprint lines — usually NOT firsts.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Delacorte Press, Dell Laurel, Laurel-Leaf, Yearling, Dial Press (under Dell), Dell Dragonfly. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Dell Publishing book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Mass-market originals: copyright page shows a printing statement; a true first lists only 'First printing (date)' or a number line including 1 with no later printings. Delacorte Press hardcovers (the Dell trade-hardcover line) typically state 'First printing' / 'First Edition' and use a number line ending in 1.
Does Dell Publishing use a number line?
Delacorte Press hardcovers (the Dell trade-hardcover line) typically state 'First printing' / 'First Edition' and use a number line ending in 1.
Is a book-club edition a Dell Publishing first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Dell was historically a paperback/magazine house; Delacorte Press (est. 1921, revived as Dell's hardcover imprint) is where Dell hardcover firsts appear.
What era does this cover?
This covers Dell Publishing (1942–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.