How to identify a first printing
- Identified by the EDITION/year statement on the cover and title/copyright page; the franchise revises on a regular cycle, so the year and stated edition are primary.
- The landmark first title 'Europe on the original price a Day' (1957) is the historic collectible, and the dollar figure in the title rose over the decades, so the title itself helps date the printing.
- Owner-era guides (Wiley and after) typically carry a standard descending number line alongside the edition statement, where the lowest digit indicates the printing.
Notable points & cautions
- Arthur Frommer self-published 'Europe on the original price a Day' in 1957, helping launch budget-travel publishing; first printings are sought after, and the escalating dollar amount across successive titles is a built-in dating device.
- Ownership passed from Frommer to Simon & Schuster (1977), then through Pearson/IDG to John Wiley & Sons, then to Google (2012), then back to Arthur and Pauline Frommer as FrommerMedia (2013); the owner shown on the imprint page helps date the era.
- Routine later editions hold little collectible interest; the historic firsts and earliest titles are the collectibles.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: FrommerMedia (current owner, from 2013), Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Frommer's book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Identified by the EDITION/year statement on the cover and title/copyright page; the franchise revises on a regular cycle, so the year and stated edition are primary. The landmark first title 'Europe on the original price a Day' (1957) is the historic collectible, and the dollar figure in the title rose over the decades, so the title itself helps date the printing.
Does Frommer's use a number line?
The landmark first title 'Europe on the original price a Day' (1957) is the historic collectible, and the dollar figure in the title rose over the decades, so the title itself helps date the printing.
Is a book-club edition a Frommer's first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Arthur Frommer self-published 'Europe on the original price a Day' in 1957, helping launch budget-travel publishing; first printings are sought after, and the escalating dollar amount across successive titles is a built-in dating device.
What era does this cover?
This covers Frommer's (1957-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.