How to identify a first printing
- Independent Ecco Press era (1971–1999): typically stated 'First Edition' / 'First printing' and/or first printings identified by absence of later printings; many were trade paperbacks and poetry.
- HarperCollins-era Ecco (1999–present): states 'First Edition' on the copyright page WITH a descending number line ending in 1.
- Reliable modern test: 'First Edition' + line-to-1.
- Some literary reprints carry 'First Ecco edition' wording — distinguish first edition of the work from first Ecco printing.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1971 by Daniel Halpern as an independent literary house (poetry, fiction, the famous Antaeus magazine and Neglected Books series).
- Acquired by HarperCollins in 1999; now a HarperCollins literary imprint (Cormac McCarthy paperbacks, Joyce Carol Oates, etc.).
- Era split is important: independent-era Ecco lacks the HC number line; modern Ecco follows HC convention.
- Distinct from the 'Ecco' children's or other unrelated lines — verify imprint on the title page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Ecco book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Independent Ecco Press era (1971–1999): typically stated 'First Edition' / 'First printing' and/or first printings identified by absence of later printings; many were trade paperbacks and poetry. HarperCollins-era Ecco (1999–present): states 'First Edition' on the copyright page WITH a descending number line ending in 1.
Does Ecco use a number line?
HarperCollins-era Ecco (1999–present): states 'First Edition' on the copyright page WITH a descending number line ending in 1.
Is a book-club edition a Ecco first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1971 by Daniel Halpern as an independent literary house (poetry, fiction, the famous Antaeus magazine and Neglected Books series).
What era does this cover?
This covers Ecco (1971–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.
Ecco titles with documented first-edition points
Each link opens that title’s specific points of issue — the exact marks that separate a true first printing from a later one.
- Ararat (Louise Glück, 1990)
- Just Kids (Patti Smith, 2010)
- Midnight Magic: Selected Stories (Bobbie Ann Mason, 1998)
- Praise (Robert Hass, 1979)
- Sun Under Wood: New Poems (Robert Hass, 1996)
- The Barracks Thief (Tobias Wolff, 1984)
- The Dream of the Unified Field: Selected Poems 1974-1994 (Jorie Graham, 1995)
- The Gardener's Son (screenplay) (Cormac McCarthy, 1996)
- The Stonemason (play) (Cormac McCarthy, 1994)
- The Stonemason: A Play in Five Acts (Cormac McCarthy, 1994)
- The Wild Iris (Louise Glück, 1992)