How to identify a first printing
- 1988-c.2000 (Fairbanks era): First printings often carry no number line; identify by a copyright/publication year that matches first appearance and by a 'First printing' or 'First edition' statement where present. The imprint address (Fairbanks, then the Seattle area) on the copyright page is a useful era tell.
- c.2000-present: Descending number line on the copyright page, with the lowest digit indicating the printing. Many titles are trade-paperback originals, so a stated 'first edition' may mean the first paperback printing rather than a hardcover.
- Velma Wallis's 'Two Old Women' (1993): the Epicenter edition precedes the later HarperCollins/HarperPerennial trade-paperback license, so the true first is the Epicenter printing. Verify the Epicenter imprint and Alaska origin rather than mistaking a HarperCollins reprint for the first.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1988 in Fairbanks, Alaska, by Kent Sturgis and Lael Morgan; became a leading trade publisher of Alaska nonfiction.
- Later moved its editorial/business office to the Seattle area (Kenmore, Washington).
- Signature title: 'Two Old Women' by Velma Wallis (1993), a Western States Book Award winner translated into many languages with well over a million copies sold; the scarcer Epicenter first is the collectible.
- Affiliated with the Seattle-area Coffeetown Press and Camel Press as sister imprints under common management.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Epicenter Press, Coffeetown Press (sister), Camel Press (sister). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Epicenter Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1988-c.2000 (Fairbanks era): First printings often carry no number line; identify by a copyright/publication year that matches first appearance and by a 'First printing' or 'First edition' statement where present. The imprint address (Fairbanks, then the Seattle area) on the copyright page is a useful era tell. c.2000-present: Descending number line on the copyright page, with the lowest digit indicating the printing. Many titles are trade-paperback originals, so a stated 'first edition' may mean the first paperback printing rather than a hardcover.
Does Epicenter Press use a number line?
c.2000-present: Descending number line on the copyright page, with the lowest digit indicating the printing. Many titles are trade-paperback originals, so a stated 'first edition' may mean the first paperback printing rather than a hardcover.
Is a book-club edition a Epicenter Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1988 in Fairbanks, Alaska, by Kent Sturgis and Lael Morgan; became a leading trade publisher of Alaska nonfiction.
What era does this cover?
This covers Epicenter Press (1988-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.