How to identify a first printing
- Copyright page states 'First published in Great Britain by Granta Books [year]'; a first carries no reprint or later-impression note.
- Descending number line ending in '1' indicates a first printing on titles that carry one.
- Granta Books was distributed by Penguin at its 1989 launch, so early Granta Books firsts can show Penguin-related distribution imprint lines on the copyright page even though Granta is the publisher — confirm Granta Books is named as publisher, not just distributor.
Notable points & cautions
- Granta Books was founded in 1989 by Bill Buford, growing out of the Granta literary magazine (relaunched 1979); the magazine itself dates to 1889 as a Cambridge student paper.
- Independent (Granta Publications, consolidated 2011 under Sigrid Rausing) rather than part of a conglomerate, so it uses standard modern UK 'First published' plus number-line conventions.
- Portobello Books was a SEPARATE imprint founded in 2005, merged into Granta Publications in 2011, and CLOSED in January 2019 — its contracted authors then moved to the Granta Books imprint. Older Portobello firsts carry the Portobello imprint and are distinct from Granta Books firsts.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Granta, Granta Books, Portobello Books (separate imprint, closed January 2019). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Granta Books book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Copyright page states 'First published in Great Britain by Granta Books [year]'; a first carries no reprint or later-impression note. Descending number line ending in '1' indicates a first printing on titles that carry one.
Does Granta Books use a number line?
Descending number line ending in '1' indicates a first printing on titles that carry one.
Is a book-club edition a Granta Books first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Granta Books was founded in 1989 by Bill Buford, growing out of the Granta literary magazine (relaunched 1979); the magazine itself dates to 1889 as a Cambridge student paper.
What era does this cover?
This covers Granta Books (1989–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.