How to identify a first printing
- Copyright page states 'First published in Great Britain in [year] by Fourth Estate' (early independent years sometimes 'Fourth Estate Ltd').
- Descending number line; a first printing ends in '1' (e.g. '1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2' or '9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1').
- No subsequent-impression or reprint note appears on a true first.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1984 by Victoria Barnsley as an independent in Notting Hill; acquired by HarperCollins in 2000, after which titles follow HarperCollins number-line conventions.
- Independent-era firsts (1984–2000) are the more sought-after; the original independent imprint details on the copyright page help confirm a pre-HarperCollins first.
- Hilary Mantel ('Wolf Hall', 'Bring Up the Bodies'), Anthony Doerr and Siddhartha Mukherjee (UK editions), and Carol Ann Duffy have appeared under Fourth Estate.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Fourth Estate, 4th Estate, William Collins (sister HarperCollins literary imprint). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Fourth Estate book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Copyright page states 'First published in Great Britain in [year] by Fourth Estate' (early independent years sometimes 'Fourth Estate Ltd'). Descending number line; a first printing ends in '1' (e.g. '1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2' or '9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1').
Does Fourth Estate use a number line?
Descending number line; a first printing ends in '1' (e.g. '1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2' or '9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1').
Is a book-club edition a Fourth Estate first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1984 by Victoria Barnsley as an independent in Notting Hill; acquired by HarperCollins in 2000, after which titles follow HarperCollins number-line conventions.
What era does this cover?
This covers Fourth Estate (1984–present (HarperCollins from 2000)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.