How to identify a first printing
- Identify chiefly by the general first-printing convention of the era: a "First Edition" or "First Printing" statement and/or a number line ending in 1; do not rely on an imprint-specific "First Free Press edition" wording, which was not consistently used
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1947 by Jeremiah Kaplan and Charles Liebman as an independent house focused on social science and religion; passed through Macmillan and was acquired by Simon & Schuster in 1994; largely folded into the S&S flagship by around 2012
- Most collectible titles predate full S&S integration, so era-appropriate (Free Press / Macmillan-era) identification practice applies rather than modern S&S house rules
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Free Press. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Free Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Identify chiefly by the general first-printing convention of the era: a "First Edition" or "First Printing" statement and/or a number line ending in 1; do not rely on an imprint-specific "First Free Press edition" wording, which was not consistently used
Does Free Press use a number line?
Identify chiefly by the general first-printing convention of the era: a "First Edition" or "First Printing" statement and/or a number line ending in 1; do not rely on an imprint-specific "First Free Press edition" wording, which was not consistently used
Is a book-club edition a Free Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1947 by Jeremiah Kaplan and Charles Liebman as an independent house focused on social science and religion; passed through Macmillan and was acquired by Simon & Schuster in 1994; largely folded into the S&S flagship by around 2012
What era does this cover?
This covers Free Press (1947–c.2012 (independent house, then Simon & Schuster imprint)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.