How to identify a first printing
- Number line on copyright page indicating printing; first printing shows the full line ending in 1
- 'First Edition' statement present on many trade titles; format follows modern American convention
- Layton, Utah publisher founded 1969 (as Peregrine Smith) by Gibbs M. Smith; Western Americana, architecture/design, cookbooks, humor
- Printing year and number line read together; revised editions stated explicitly
Notable points & cautions
- Earlier output under the 'Peregrine Smith' / 'Gibbs M. Smith, Inc., Peregrine Smith Books' imprint — same conventional identification; the imprint name on the title page dates the era
- Strong in regional Western art/architecture monographs that get reprinted; later printings drop the '1'
- No idiosyncratic house code
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Gibbs Smith, Gibbs Smith Education, Peregrine Smith Books (earlier imprint). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Gibbs Smith book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Number line on copyright page indicating printing; first printing shows the full line ending in 1 'First Edition' statement present on many trade titles; format follows modern American convention
Does Gibbs Smith use a number line?
'First Edition' statement present on many trade titles; format follows modern American convention
Is a book-club edition a Gibbs Smith first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Earlier output under the 'Peregrine Smith' / 'Gibbs M. Smith, Inc., Peregrine Smith Books' imprint — same conventional identification; the imprint name on the title page dates the era
What era does this cover?
This covers Gibbs Smith (1969–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.