How to identify a first printing
- First printing: Fawcett gave no general first-edition statement but DID note subsequent printings, so a first is identified by the ABSENCE of any later-printing line; documented firsts read 'First Crest printing, Month Year' (later 'First Fawcett Crest printing, Month Year').
- The catalog number, often with a letter-price prefix, is a title/price-era identifier, not a printing count.
- A price bump on the same catalog number indicates a reprint.
Notable points & cautions
- Crest, launched September 1955, was Fawcett's paperback-REPRINT imprint, the companion to the Gold Medal paperback-originals line; a Fawcett Crest book is therefore almost always NOT the true first of the work, so locate the prior hardcover.
- Premier, also launched September 1955, was Fawcett's nonfiction/quality reprint imprint.
- Collector shorthand: 'Gold Medal' on the spine signals a possible paperback original or true first, while 'Crest' or 'Premier' signals a reprint.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Crest, Fawcett Crest, Fawcett Premier. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Crest / Fawcett Crest book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. First printing: Fawcett gave no general first-edition statement but DID note subsequent printings, so a first is identified by the ABSENCE of any later-printing line; documented firsts read 'First Crest printing, Month Year' (later 'First Fawcett Crest printing, Month Year'). The catalog number, often with a letter-price prefix, is a title/price-era identifier, not a printing count.
Does Crest / Fawcett Crest use a number line?
The catalog number, often with a letter-price prefix, is a title/price-era identifier, not a printing count.
Is a book-club edition a Crest / Fawcett Crest first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Crest, launched September 1955, was Fawcett's paperback-REPRINT imprint, the companion to the Gold Medal paperback-originals line; a Fawcett Crest book is therefore almost always NOT the true first of the work, so locate the prior hardcover.
What era does this cover?
This covers Crest / Fawcett Crest (1955-1980s). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.