The fastest check: Number line on the copyright page; lowest number = the printing.
How to identify a first printing
- Number line on the copyright page; lowest number = the printing.
- Many titles state 'First Edition' with the year.
- Single-printing titles are common; rely on the stated edition plus the absence of any reprint notice.
Decode the printer's key: paste the number line into the number-line decoder, search any title in the First Edition Checker, or run a book through the identifier.
Notable points & cautions
- Book imprint of Fence magazine; the magazine was founded by Rebecca Wolff in 1998 and Fence Books followed around 2001, now headquartered at the University at Albany.
- Prize-series labeling (Motherwell, formerly Alberta; Ottoline; Fence Modern Poets Series) dates or categorizes a title only and does not indicate the printing.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Motherwell Prize (formerly the Alberta Prize), Ottoline Prize, Fence Modern Poets Series. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Fence Books book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Number line on the copyright page; lowest number = the printing. Many titles state 'First Edition' with the year.
Does Fence Books use a number line?
Many titles state 'First Edition' with the year.
Is a book-club edition a Fence Books first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Book imprint of Fence magazine; the magazine was founded by Rebecca Wolff in 1998 and Fence Books followed around 2001, now headquartered at the University at Albany.
What era does this cover?
This covers Fence Books (2001-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.