How to identify a first printing
- 1897–c.1920s (Doubleday & McClure / Doubleday, Page): first editions have the SAME date on title page and copyright page with no other printings mentioned.
- Early 1920s–1927: began stating 'First Edition' on the copyright page (not always on books first published outside the US); by 1927 (Doubleday, Doran) used 'First Edition' consistently.
- Mid-1958–early 1959: numerical gutter code (1–52) on the last page of text indicating the WEEK of printing. Early 1959–1987: added a LETTER code before the week code indicating the YEAR.
- c.1990s–present: uses a descending number row; presence of 1 indicates first printing. Throughout: any mention of later printings means it is NOT a first.
Notable points & cautions
- Name evolution: Doubleday & McClure (1897) → Doubleday, Page (c.1900) → Doubleday, Doran (1927) → Doubleday & Co. (1947) → part of Bantam Doubleday Dell → Random House/PRH (1998).
- The 1958–1987 gutter/colophon code (letter+number) is a famous, decodable Doubleday point — the letter gives the year, the number the week.
- Doubleday is notorious for book-club editions (it ran large book clubs): BCEs typically lack a price on the jacket, have a blind-stamp 'dot' or square on the lower-right rear board, and are smaller/lighter — a classic confusion with trade firsts.
- Nan A. Talese is the prestige literary imprint (Atwood, McEwan, Ondaatje) — follows modern Doubleday number-line convention.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Nan A. Talese, Anchor (paper sister), Image (religious), Doubleday Religion, Currency (business), Galilee, Crime Club (historic), Zenith/Dolphin (historic paper). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Doubleday book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1897–c.1920s (Doubleday & McClure / Doubleday, Page): first editions have the SAME date on title page and copyright page with no other printings mentioned. Early 1920s–1927: began stating 'First Edition' on the copyright page (not always on books first published outside the US); by 1927 (Doubleday, Doran) used 'First Edition' consistently.
Does Doubleday use a number line?
Early 1920s–1927: began stating 'First Edition' on the copyright page (not always on books first published outside the US); by 1927 (Doubleday, Doran) used 'First Edition' consistently.
Is a book-club edition a Doubleday first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Name evolution: Doubleday & McClure (1897) → Doubleday, Page (c.1900) → Doubleday, Doran (1927) → Doubleday & Co. (1947) → part of Bantam Doubleday Dell → Random House/PRH (1998).
What era does this cover?
This covers Doubleday (1897–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.