How to identify a first printing
- 1967-1980s (Down East Magazine/Enterprise era): No reliable 'First Edition' slug on early titles. Treat a first printing as a single copyright-page date matching the publication year with no later-printing notation; later printings add an explicit statement. Early titles often credit 'Down East Magazine' or 'Down East Enterprise, Camden, Maine.'
- 1980s-2000s: Mixed practice. Some titles state 'First Edition' or 'First printing'; a number line (lowest number present indicates the printing) appears on later titles. Where no printing statement is present, the matching copyright date plus the absence of any later-printing notation is the practical first-printing tell.
- c. 2015-present (Globe Pequot / Rowman & Littlefield ownership): Follows the Globe Pequot/Rowman & Littlefield house convention - a copyright-page printing line and/or number line in which the lowest digit present indicates the printing; the imprint line reads 'Down East Books, an imprint of ...'
Notable points & cautions
- Began publishing in 1967 (first title 'Leroy the Lobster and Crabby Crab') and has issued well over 1,000 Maine and New England titles.
- Originated as the book division of Down East magazine (the magazine itself passed to the Fernald family in 1976); the book line later separated and was acquired into the Globe Pequot / Rowman & Littlefield group.
- Post-acquisition copyright pages carry the corporate 'an imprint of ...' language, a quick era tell.
- Regional nautical, nature, cookbook, history, and children's titles dominate the list.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Down East Books, Down East Enterprise (parent, formerly), Globe Pequot / Rowman & Littlefield (current owner-distributor). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Down East Books book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1967-1980s (Down East Magazine/Enterprise era): No reliable 'First Edition' slug on early titles. Treat a first printing as a single copyright-page date matching the publication year with no later-printing notation; later printings add an explicit statement. Early titles often credit 'Down East Magazine' or 'Down East Enterprise, Camden, Maine.' 1980s-2000s: Mixed practice. Some titles state 'First Edition' or 'First printing'; a number line (lowest number present indicates the printing) appears on later titles. Where no printing statement is present, the matching copyright date plus the absence of any later-printing notation is the practical first-printing tell.
Does Down East Books use a number line?
1980s-2000s: Mixed practice. Some titles state 'First Edition' or 'First printing'; a number line (lowest number present indicates the printing) appears on later titles. Where no printing statement is present, the matching copyright date plus the absence of any later-printing notation is the practical first-printing tell.
Is a book-club edition a Down East Books first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Began publishing in 1967 (first title 'Leroy the Lobster and Crabby Crab') and has issued well over 1,000 Maine and New England titles.
What era does this cover?
This covers Down East Books (1967-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.