How to identify a first printing
- Identify by the copyright-page number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' (lowest digit present = printing) combined with a 'First published in [year]' statement and any 'Reprinted with revisions' year list.
- 1993-2000s: series launched 1993, copyright held by 'Dorling Kindersley Limited, London'. A true first printing shows the original publication year and carries NO 'Reprinted with revisions' year list.
- Revised editions: the copyright page accumulates a 'Reprinted with revisions' year list, and the number line on a revised reprint will have lost the '1' — both mark a non-first printing.
- 2010s-present: under Penguin Random House; the same number-line plus revision-year-list convention continues.
Notable points & cautions
- Number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' with the lowest digit indicating the printing, confirmed from physical copies.
- Key tell: the 'Reprinted with revisions' YEAR LIST on the copyright page — a first printing has none.
- Series founded 1993; 'Dorling Kindersley Limited, London' copyright line, later 'DK, a division of Penguin Random House'.
- The photo and cutaway 3D-illustration format is the brand signature.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, DK Eyewitness Top 10 Guides, DK Eyewitness Back Roads, DK Eyewitness (Eyewitness Books reference). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my DK Eyewitness (Dorling Kindersley) book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Identify by the copyright-page number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' (lowest digit present = printing) combined with a 'First published in [year]' statement and any 'Reprinted with revisions' year list. 1993-2000s: series launched 1993, copyright held by 'Dorling Kindersley Limited, London'. A true first printing shows the original publication year and carries NO 'Reprinted with revisions' year list.
Does DK Eyewitness (Dorling Kindersley) use a number line?
1993-2000s: series launched 1993, copyright held by 'Dorling Kindersley Limited, London'. A true first printing shows the original publication year and carries NO 'Reprinted with revisions' year list.
Is a book-club edition a DK Eyewitness (Dorling Kindersley) first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' with the lowest digit indicating the printing, confirmed from physical copies.
What era does this cover?
This covers DK Eyewitness (Dorling Kindersley) (1993-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.