The fastest check: Modern firsts use a copyright-page number line; a sequence terminating in 1 indicates the first printing.
How to identify a first printing
- Modern firsts use a copyright-page number line; a sequence terminating in 1 indicates the first printing.
- First printings carry a single year with no subsequent-printing list.
- Later printings or editions are explicitly stated; the absence of such a statement indicates the first.
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
- Founded in 1964, originally as part of the School of Languages and Linguistics; strengths in linguistics, international affairs, ethics, and religion.
- Publishes the Al-Kitaab Arabic-language textbook series, the most widely used set of its kind in the United States, which goes through frequent new editions.
- Small scholarly list not separately itemized in first-edition guides; confirm the edition number before assessing the printing, because language and applied-linguistics texts are reissued often.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Georgetown University Press. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Georgetown University Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Modern firsts use a copyright-page number line; a sequence terminating in 1 indicates the first printing. First printings carry a single year with no subsequent-printing list.
Does Georgetown University Press use a number line?
First printings carry a single year with no subsequent-printing list.
Is a book-club edition a Georgetown University Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded in 1964, originally as part of the School of Languages and Linguistics; strengths in linguistics, international affairs, ethics, and religion.
What era does this cover?
This covers Georgetown University Press (1964-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.