How to identify a first printing
- First editions and later printings are noted on the copyright page; the modern practice uses a number row/printer's key, with the presence of '1' (or the lowest digit) indicating a first printing.
- Grove added a number row around 1969 (initially on the last page before the rear free endpaper, later on the copyright page) but often failed to remove a 'First Edition' statement from reprints — so a 'First Edition' line alone is not conclusive for that era; corroborate with the number row.
- Later-printing dust jackets can carry a small letter code on the rear panel (e.g., 'ii' for a second printing) — a useful corroborating tell.
- For landmark titles (e.g., Tropic of Cancer 1961, Naked Lunch US 1962, Lady Chatterley's Lover unexpurgated 1959), edition/issue points are title-specific — verify against title bibliographies, not the house rule alone.
Notable points & cautions
- Black Cat and Evergreen were Grove's mass-market and quality-paperback lines (key for Beckett, Burroughs, Miller, Genet first-in-US paperbacks).
- Corporate history: Grove Press → Grove Weidenfeld (1989) → merged with Atlantic Monthly Press to form Grove/Atlantic Inc. (1993); the imprint name on the copyright page can help date a printing.
- Dust-jacket spine logo and pricing changes help separate a first issue from later Grove printings of the same edition.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Grove Atlantic (parent), Black Cat, Evergreen, Atlantic Monthly Press (sister), Grove Weidenfeld (1989–1993). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Grove Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. First editions and later printings are noted on the copyright page; the modern practice uses a number row/printer's key, with the presence of '1' (or the lowest digit) indicating a first printing. Grove added a number row around 1969 (initially on the last page before the rear free endpaper, later on the copyright page) but often failed to remove a 'First Edition' statement from reprints — so a 'First Edition' line alone is not conclusive for that era; corroborate with the number row.
Does Grove Press use a number line?
Grove added a number row around 1969 (initially on the last page before the rear free endpaper, later on the copyright page) but often failed to remove a 'First Edition' statement from reprints — so a 'First Edition' line alone is not conclusive for that era; corroborate with the number row.
Is a book-club edition a Grove Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Black Cat and Evergreen were Grove's mass-market and quality-paperback lines (key for Beckett, Burroughs, Miller, Genet first-in-US paperbacks).
What era does this cover?
This covers Grove Press (1947–present (as Grove/Atlantic since 1993)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.