How to Identify a First Second Books (:01 First Second) First Edition

How to identify a first printing

• Imprint of Roaring Brook Press / Macmillan Children's Publishing Group (Holtzbrinck): the copyright page of a first printing states 'First edition' with the year and almost always carries a descending number line.
• First printing is identified by the Macmillan-style number line: the lowest number present (a '1' anywhere in the line, e.g. '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' or the split two-row Macmillan arrangement) indicates the printing; later printings drop the lowest digit(s).
• Look for 'First edition, [year]' wording directly above or below the number line and confirm the lowest digit is '1.'

Notable points & cautions

• Founded 2006 by Mark Siegel and launched in U.S. stores in May 2006; because it is a Macmillan/Roaring Brook imprint it follows full traditional book-trade first-edition conventions, unlike most floppy-comic publishers.
• Best-sellers such as 'American Born Chinese' (Gene Luen Yang) went to many printings, so the dated 'First edition' line plus the number line is the authoritative point.
• Distinguish the First Second edition from any earlier serialized, web, or foreign edition of the same work.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my First Second Books (:01 First Second) book is a first edition?

Check the copyright page. Imprint of Roaring Brook Press / Macmillan Children's Publishing Group (Holtzbrinck): the copyright page of a first printing states 'First edition' with the year and almost always carries a descending number line. First printing is identified by the Macmillan-style number line: the lowest number present (a '1' anywhere in the line, e.g. '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' or the split two-row Macmillan arrangement) indicates the printing; later printings drop the lowest digit(s).

Does First Second Books (:01 First Second) use a number line?

First printing is identified by the Macmillan-style number line: the lowest number present (a '1' anywhere in the line, e.g. '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' or the split two-row Macmillan arrangement) indicates the printing; later printings drop the lowest digit(s).

Is a book-club edition a First Second Books (:01 First Second) first edition?

No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 2006 by Mark Siegel and launched in U.S. stores in May 2006; because it is a Macmillan/Roaring Brook imprint it follows full traditional book-trade first-edition conventions, unlike most floppy-comic publishers.

What era does this cover?

This covers First Second Books (:01 First Second) (2006-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.