How to identify a first printing
- First printing: a descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; often with a 'First published in [year]' or 'First edition' statement
- The lowest digit present in the number line indicates the printing
Notable points & cautions
- Toronto literary children's house founded in 1978 by Patricia (Patsy) Aldana; sold to House of Anansi Press in 2012 and now part of that family
- Strong in translated and Indigenous and Latin American children's literature, with a Spanish-language list (Libros Tigrillo); translated titles may carry an original-language edition date alongside the English first-edition line
- Reliable modern descending-number-line convention
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Groundwood Books, Libros Tigrillo (Spanish), House of Anansi (parent). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Groundwood Books book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. First printing: a descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; often with a 'First published in [year]' or 'First edition' statement The lowest digit present in the number line indicates the printing
Does Groundwood Books use a number line?
The lowest digit present in the number line indicates the printing
Is a book-club edition a Groundwood Books first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Toronto literary children's house founded in 1978 by Patricia (Patsy) Aldana; sold to House of Anansi Press in 2012 and now part of that family
What era does this cover?
This covers Groundwood Books (1978-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.