How to identify a first printing
- 1979-2000 (independent Falcon Press/Publishing, Helena, MT): Trade firsts state 'First Edition'/'First Printing' and/or use a descending number line ('1' present = first printing). Guidebooks are frequently revised, so a new edition is restated ('Second Edition') and re-dated.
- 2000-present (Falcon as a Globe Pequot Press, later Rowman & Littlefield, imprint): Globe Pequot house style — descending number line where the lowest surviving digit gives the printing; a year line may accompany. Imprint reads 'FalconGuides' / 'Falcon, an imprint of Globe Pequot'.
- All eras: For the 'Hiking [State]'/'[State] Hiking Guide' and 'Best Easy Day Hikes' series, confirm EDITION currency (trail data, maps) in addition to the printing statement — many titles cycle through numerous editions, so a first printing of a later edition is not the original first.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1979 in Helena, Montana, launching with a single title, 'Hiking Montana' by co-founder Bill Schneider; grew to more than 700 outdoor-recreation titles and became North America's leading outdoor-guide publisher before joining the Globe Pequot family in fall 2000.
- A leading guidebook publisher competing in the outdoor-recreation guide market through the 1990s-2000s.
- Now an outdoor imprint under Globe Pequot / Rowman & Littlefield (FalconGuides), following that house's number-line conventions.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Falcon Press, Falcon Publishing, Inc., FalconGuides, Falcon (under Globe Pequot). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Falcon Publishing (FalconGuides) book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1979-2000 (independent Falcon Press/Publishing, Helena, MT): Trade firsts state 'First Edition'/'First Printing' and/or use a descending number line ('1' present = first printing). Guidebooks are frequently revised, so a new edition is restated ('Second Edition') and re-dated. 2000-present (Falcon as a Globe Pequot Press, later Rowman & Littlefield, imprint): Globe Pequot house style — descending number line where the lowest surviving digit gives the printing; a year line may accompany. Imprint reads 'FalconGuides' / 'Falcon, an imprint of Globe Pequot'.
Does Falcon Publishing (FalconGuides) use a number line?
2000-present (Falcon as a Globe Pequot Press, later Rowman & Littlefield, imprint): Globe Pequot house style — descending number line where the lowest surviving digit gives the printing; a year line may accompany. Imprint reads 'FalconGuides' / 'Falcon, an imprint of Globe Pequot'.
Is a book-club edition a Falcon Publishing (FalconGuides) first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1979 in Helena, Montana, launching with a single title, 'Hiking Montana' by co-founder Bill Schneider; grew to more than 700 outdoor-recreation titles and became North America's leading outdoor-guide publisher before joining the Globe Pequot family in fall 2000.
What era does this cover?
This covers Falcon Publishing (FalconGuides) (1979-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.