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First-Edition Identification · US Trade Publishers

How to Identify a Forge Books First Edition

US (New York) · 1993-present

The fastest check: First printing carries a number line whose lowest digit is 1; many titles also state "First Edition" with month and year on the copyright page, following Tor house style

How to identify a first printing

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

Imprints

First editions also appear under: Forge. Each generally follows the house convention above.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my Forge Books book is a first edition?

Check the copyright page. First printing carries a number line whose lowest digit is 1; many titles also state "First Edition" with month and year on the copyright page, following Tor house style

Does Forge Books use a number line?

First printing carries a number line whose lowest digit is 1; many titles also state "First Edition" with month and year on the copyright page, following Tor house style

Is a book-club edition a Forge Books first edition?

No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Thriller, historical, and general-fiction sister imprint to Tor within Tor Publishing Group (the renamed Tom Doherty Associates), a Macmillan division

What era does this cover?

This covers Forge Books (1993-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.

More first-edition identification