The fastest check: Stated "First Edition" on the copyright page (no statement on later printings)
How to identify a first printing
- Stated "First Edition" on the copyright page (no statement on later printings)
- Gutter codes (mid-1958 to mid-1987) as a dating cross-reference
Decode the printer's key: paste the number line into the number-line decoder, or run any book through the first-edition identifier.
Notable points & cautions
- The Literary Guild, Mystery Guild, and Doubleday Book Club run through this house; their club editions carry a five-digit code block on the jacket and a rear-board blind stamp — not the same as the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Doubleday book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Stated "First Edition" on the copyright page (no statement on later printings) Gutter codes (mid-1958 to mid-1987) as a dating cross-reference
Does Doubleday use a number line?
Gutter codes (mid-1958 to mid-1987) as a dating cross-reference
Is a book-club edition a Doubleday first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. The Literary Guild, Mystery Guild, and Doubleday Book Club run through this house; their club editions carry a five-digit code block on the jacket and a rear-board blind stamp — not the same as the trade first.
What era does this cover?
This covers Doubleday. Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.