How to identify a first printing
- 1923–mid-1930s (Lincoln MacVeagh era): The reliable first-edition tell is a matching date on the title page and the copyright page, combined with the 'Lincoln MacVeagh / The Dial Press' imprint wording. Early Dial firsts generally carry no first-edition statement; the date-match is the primary check, not merely the absence of a later-printing notice.
- Mid-1930s–1945: First printing identified by the same title-page and copyright-page date with no subsequent printings listed. Dial occasionally printed 'First Printing' (its preferred wording was 'First Printing,' not 'First Edition') but did not list later printings during this era, so a stated later printing is the clearest disqualifier.
- Post-1945 (outside this slice): In the late 1960s Dial began stating 'First Printing (Year)' and noting subsequent printings; apply that later rule to post-war Dial titles, which form a distinct, better-documented record.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1923 by Lincoln MacVeagh and grew out of The Dial literary magazine; MacVeagh's name in the imprint is the strongest early-era dating tell.
- Early literary and modernist list; identification rests on the title-/copyright-page date-match convention typical of 1920s–1930s American houses.
- Post-1945 Dial Press is a distinct entity with clearer 'First Printing (Year)' practice and should be deduped against any modern Dial Press record.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: The Dial Press, Lincoln MacVeagh / The Dial Press (early proprietor imprint). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my The Dial Press (early) book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1923–mid-1930s (Lincoln MacVeagh era): The reliable first-edition tell is a matching date on the title page and the copyright page, combined with the 'Lincoln MacVeagh / The Dial Press' imprint wording. Early Dial firsts generally carry no first-edition statement; the date-match is the primary check, not merely the absence of a later-printing notice. Mid-1930s–1945: First printing identified by the same title-page and copyright-page date with no subsequent printings listed. Dial occasionally printed 'First Printing' (its preferred wording was 'First Printing,' not 'First Edition') but did not list later printings during this era, so a stated later printing is the clearest disqualifier.
Does The Dial Press (early) use a number line?
Mid-1930s–1945: First printing identified by the same title-page and copyright-page date with no subsequent printings listed. Dial occasionally printed 'First Printing' (its preferred wording was 'First Printing,' not 'First Edition') but did not list later printings during this era, so a stated later printing is the clearest disqualifier.
Is a book-club edition a The Dial Press (early) first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1923 by Lincoln MacVeagh and grew out of The Dial literary magazine; MacVeagh's name in the imprint is the strongest early-era dating tell.
What era does this cover?
This covers The Dial Press (early) (1923–1945 (early period)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.