How to identify a first printing
- On a first printing the copyright page states 'First published [year] ... by the Giramondo Publishing Company' with the issuing research-centre/university address, carries no reprint line, and the stated year matches. This statement is the primary first-printing signal.
- Print runs are small, so reprints are explicitly noted with an added 'Reprinted [year]' line when they occur; the absence of any such line indicates a first printing. Number lines are not a reliable tell for this house.
- Series identification: Southern Latitudes (translations) and the Giramondo Shorts short-form series carry distinctive series statements; HEAT issues are numbered serials, not book firsts.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1995 by Ivor Indyk and Evelyn Juers; the book imprint began in 2002, before which output was the journal HEAT (launched 1996, first series 1996–2000, second series 2001–2011).
- Publisher of major literary firsts and prize-winners (e.g. Alexis Wright, Gerald Murnane, Jessica Au); small runs make true firsts scarce, so the condition of card/wrappered editions matters.
- Address changes track the era: University of Newcastle (from 2001), then Western Sydney University Bankstown (from 2005), then Parramatta — the colophon address helps date the printing.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Giramondo, Southern Latitudes (translation series), Giramondo Shorts (short-form series), HEAT (literary journal/magazine). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Giramondo Publishing book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. On a first printing the copyright page states 'First published [year] ... by the Giramondo Publishing Company' with the issuing research-centre/university address, carries no reprint line, and the stated year matches. This statement is the primary first-printing signal. Print runs are small, so reprints are explicitly noted with an added 'Reprinted [year]' line when they occur; the absence of any such line indicates a first printing. Number lines are not a reliable tell for this house.
Does Giramondo Publishing use a number line?
Print runs are small, so reprints are explicitly noted with an added 'Reprinted [year]' line when they occur; the absence of any such line indicates a first printing. Number lines are not a reliable tell for this house.
Is a book-club edition a Giramondo Publishing first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1995 by Ivor Indyk and Evelyn Juers; the book imprint began in 2002, before which output was the journal HEAT (launched 1996, first series 1996–2000, second series 2001–2011).
What era does this cover?
This covers Giramondo Publishing (1995–present (books since 2002)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.