How to identify a first printing
- 1877-c.1929: first editions carry no later-printing statement; occasionally a 'Published [month, year]' line appears on the copyright page. Identify a first by the absence of any later-printing notice.
- c.1929-c.1965: first editions state 'First published [month, year]' and show a Roman numeral 'I' (or Arabic '1') on the copyright page; later printings increment the numeral (II, III, ... / 2, 3, ...). The 'First published' line together with the 'I' / '1' indicates a first printing. Note occasional exceptions, such as Cheever's The Enormous Radio (1953), which carries the numeral but no first-edition statement.
- c.1965 onward (under various owners): conventions move toward a standard number line, with the lowest digit (1) present indicating the first printing.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1877 by Isaac Funk and Adam Wagnalls; best known for the Standard Dictionary and the Funk & Wagnalls encyclopedia rather than for literary firsts.
- The 'First published [date]' line combined with the Roman-numeral 'I' (post-1929) is the most reliable Funk & Wagnalls first-printing marker.
- The trade imprint passed through Reader's Digest and other owners; the name survives mainly on reference works.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Funk & Wagnalls, Wagnalls Memorial, Minerva Press (paperback), Funk & Wagnalls (under Reader's Digest/later owners). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Funk & Wagnalls book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1877-c.1929: first editions carry no later-printing statement; occasionally a 'Published [month, year]' line appears on the copyright page. Identify a first by the absence of any later-printing notice. c.1929-c.1965: first editions state 'First published [month, year]' and show a Roman numeral 'I' (or Arabic '1') on the copyright page; later printings increment the numeral (II, III, ... / 2, 3, ...). The 'First published' line together with the 'I' / '1' indicates a first printing. Note occasional exceptions, such as Cheever's The Enormous Radio (1953), which carries the numeral but no first-edition statement.
Does Funk & Wagnalls use a number line?
c.1929-c.1965: first editions state 'First published [month, year]' and show a Roman numeral 'I' (or Arabic '1') on the copyright page; later printings increment the numeral (II, III, ... / 2, 3, ...). The 'First published' line together with the 'I' / '1' indicates a first printing. Note occasional exceptions, such as Cheever's The Enormous Radio (1953), which carries the numeral but no first-edition statement.
Is a book-club edition a Funk & Wagnalls first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1877 by Isaac Funk and Adam Wagnalls; best known for the Standard Dictionary and the Funk & Wagnalls encyclopedia rather than for literary firsts.
What era does this cover?
This covers Funk & Wagnalls (1877-c.1990s). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.