How to identify a first printing
- Identify by the copyright page: it names the issuing Getty body and the publication year. For these scholarly/institutional titles the primary first-printing tell is the original publication year combined with the absence of any reprint or revised-edition statement.
- A descending number line is NOT a consistent Getty convention. Where a number line does appear, the lowest digit present indicates the printing (a line ending in 1 = first printing), but most Getty titles do not carry one, so do not treat its absence as evidence against a first.
- Most Getty scholarly titles and exhibition catalogues see a single printing; when reprints occur they are stated explicitly on the copyright page.
- Exhibition catalogues co-published with other museums may carry a co-publisher colophon; match the Getty first-published year and check for any later-printing line.
Notable points & cautions
- Getty publications are scholarly and institutional; print runs are usually well-documented and most titles are not heavily reprinted.
- The imprint on the title page (Museum, Research Institute, Conservation Institute, or Trust) identifies the issuing program, not the printing.
- Open-content digital and print-on-demand later issues exist for some titles; a POD or revised digital-print copy is not the original first printing.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Getty Publications, J. Paul Getty Museum, Getty Research Institute, Getty Conservation Institute, Getty Trust Publications. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Getty Publications (J. Paul Getty Museum / Getty Trust) book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Identify by the copyright page: it names the issuing Getty body and the publication year. For these scholarly/institutional titles the primary first-printing tell is the original publication year combined with the absence of any reprint or revised-edition statement. A descending number line is NOT a consistent Getty convention. Where a number line does appear, the lowest digit present indicates the printing (a line ending in 1 = first printing), but most Getty titles do not carry one, so do not treat its absence as evidence against a first.
Does Getty Publications (J. Paul Getty Museum / Getty Trust) use a number line?
A descending number line is NOT a consistent Getty convention. Where a number line does appear, the lowest digit present indicates the printing (a line ending in 1 = first printing), but most Getty titles do not carry one, so do not treat its absence as evidence against a first.
Is a book-club edition a Getty Publications (J. Paul Getty Museum / Getty Trust) first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Getty publications are scholarly and institutional; print runs are usually well-documented and most titles are not heavily reprinted.
What era does this cover?
This covers Getty Publications (J. Paul Getty Museum / Getty Trust) (1980s–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.