How to identify a first printing
- Most titles are dated annuals: identify by the YEAR/edition in the title plus the copyright-page number line, where the lowest digit present indicates the printing.
- 1948-1980s: founded by Temple Fielding, whose landmark 'Fielding's Travel Guide to Europe' appeared in 1948 as the upscale counterpart to budget series such as Frommer's. The 1948 first edition was published by William Sloane Associates, not William Morrow; identify it by the 1948 date and the Sloane imprint. (Fielding sold rights to William Morrow only later in his career, so a Morrow imprint marks a later phase, not the original first.)
- 1990s: Fielding Worldwide of Redondo Beach, California revived the brand using standard US number-line copyright pages; 'Fielding's the World's Most Dangerous Places' (first published 1998) is the notable cult title.
- Later printings add reprint years; a first printing of a given annual shows that year's debut date and the full number line ending in 1.
Notable points & cautions
- Temple Fielding's 1948 Europe guide is the foundational 'upscale' travel guide; the year in the title is the practical identifier.
- The 1948 first edition was issued by William Sloane Associates; William Morrow is a later-era imprint for the series.
- 'Fielding's the World's Most Dangerous Places' (Robert Young Pelton, Fielding Worldwide, 1998) is a cult collectible that spawned a Discovery/Travel Channel series.
- Modern editions follow standard US number-line conventions.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Fielding's Travel Guide to Europe, Fielding Worldwide, Fielding's 'The World's Most Dangerous Places'. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Fielding (Fielding's Travel Guides) book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Most titles are dated annuals: identify by the YEAR/edition in the title plus the copyright-page number line, where the lowest digit present indicates the printing. 1948-1980s: founded by Temple Fielding, whose landmark 'Fielding's Travel Guide to Europe' appeared in 1948 as the upscale counterpart to budget series such as Frommer's. The 1948 first edition was published by William Sloane Associates, not William Morrow; identify it by the 1948 date and the Sloane imprint. (Fielding sold rights to William Morrow only later in his career, so a Morrow imprint marks a later phase, not the original first.)
Does Fielding (Fielding's Travel Guides) use a number line?
1948-1980s: founded by Temple Fielding, whose landmark 'Fielding's Travel Guide to Europe' appeared in 1948 as the upscale counterpart to budget series such as Frommer's. The 1948 first edition was published by William Sloane Associates, not William Morrow; identify it by the 1948 date and the Sloane imprint. (Fielding sold rights to William Morrow only later in his career, so a Morrow imprint marks a later phase, not the original first.)
Is a book-club edition a Fielding (Fielding's Travel Guides) first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Temple Fielding's 1948 Europe guide is the foundational 'upscale' travel guide; the year in the title is the practical identifier.
What era does this cover?
This covers Fielding (Fielding's Travel Guides) (1948-1990s). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.