How to identify a first printing
- Like most American trade houses of the period, Greenberg did not use a consistent 'First Edition' statement; the practical test is the absence of any later-printing notice on the copyright page, with subsequent printings noted there. Treat this as the standard-era convention rather than a house-specific rule, and confirm per title.
- Where a copyright page carries 'Published [Year]' or a 'First printing' line with no later-printing notice, that indicates the first printing.
- When no statement is present, corroborate priority through binding and dust-jacket state, and keep per-title confidence guarded.
Notable points & cautions
- New York trade house (Greenberg, Publisher / Greenberg Publishing Company) founded in 1924 by Jacob W. and David B. Greenberg; David B. Greenberg ran it as president into the 1950s.
- Published popular nonfiction, how-to and hobby titles, health, cooking, humor, art and some fiction — a mid-tier trade and reference house, not a modernist literary press.
- Acquired by the Chilton Company in 1958; the Greenberg imprint continued briefly under Chilton (notably as the line that later issued Frank Herbert's 'Dune' in 1965).
- Distinct from unrelated figures (photography dealer Howard Greenberg; science-fiction anthologist Martin Greenberg) and from Gnome Press — do not conflate.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Greenberg Publishing Company. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Greenberg, Publisher book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Like most American trade houses of the period, Greenberg did not use a consistent 'First Edition' statement; the practical test is the absence of any later-printing notice on the copyright page, with subsequent printings noted there. Treat this as the standard-era convention rather than a house-specific rule, and confirm per title. Where a copyright page carries 'Published [Year]' or a 'First printing' line with no later-printing notice, that indicates the first printing.
Does Greenberg, Publisher use a number line?
Where a copyright page carries 'Published [Year]' or a 'First printing' line with no later-printing notice, that indicates the first printing.
Is a book-club edition a Greenberg, Publisher first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. New York trade house (Greenberg, Publisher / Greenberg Publishing Company) founded in 1924 by Jacob W. and David B. Greenberg; David B. Greenberg ran it as president into the 1950s.
What era does this cover?
This covers Greenberg, Publisher (c.1924–1958). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.