How to identify a first printing
- 1989-2009 (independent, Virginia; founders Robert S. Friedman and Frank DeMarco): copyright page states 'First Edition'/'First Printing' alongside a number line, with the lowest number present indicating the printing. The flagship Conversations with God (Neale Donald Walsch, Book 1, 1995) was originally a Hampton Roads hardcover; the true first is that 1995 Hampton Roads edition, distinct from the G.P. Putnam's Sons trade hardcover that followed in 1996.
- 2009-present (acquired by Red Wheel/Weiser): Hampton Roads continues as a Red Wheel/Weiser imprint using a standard number line (lowest number present = printing) plus a 'First Edition' statement; a Newburyport, MA address on the copyright page signals a post-acquisition printing rather than an original Virginia first.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1989 in Charlottesville, Virginia, by Robert S. Friedman and Frank DeMarco; Friedman had earlier founded The Donning Company/Publishers.
- Best known for publishing the original 1995 edition of Conversations with God, Book 1 before the trade edition moved to G.P. Putnam's Sons in 1996.
- Acquisition tell: an independent Virginia imprint (pre-2009) versus a Red Wheel/Weiser, Newburyport MA, printing (post-2009).
- The true first of Conversations with God, Book 1 is the 1995 Hampton Roads edition, not the later Putnam trade edition.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Hampton Roads, Walsch Books (Conversations with God line), New Leaf. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Hampton Roads Publishing Company book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1989-2009 (independent, Virginia; founders Robert S. Friedman and Frank DeMarco): copyright page states 'First Edition'/'First Printing' alongside a number line, with the lowest number present indicating the printing. The flagship Conversations with God (Neale Donald Walsch, Book 1, 1995) was originally a Hampton Roads hardcover; the true first is that 1995 Hampton Roads edition, distinct from the G.P. Putnam's Sons trade hardcover that followed in 1996. 2009-present (acquired by Red Wheel/Weiser): Hampton Roads continues as a Red Wheel/Weiser imprint using a standard number line (lowest number present = printing) plus a 'First Edition' statement; a Newburyport, MA address on the copyright page signals a post-acquisition printing rather than an original Virginia first.
Does Hampton Roads Publishing Company use a number line?
2009-present (acquired by Red Wheel/Weiser): Hampton Roads continues as a Red Wheel/Weiser imprint using a standard number line (lowest number present = printing) plus a 'First Edition' statement; a Newburyport, MA address on the copyright page signals a post-acquisition printing rather than an original Virginia first.
Is a book-club edition a Hampton Roads Publishing Company first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1989 in Charlottesville, Virginia, by Robert S. Friedman and Frank DeMarco; Friedman had earlier founded The Donning Company/Publishers.
What era does this cover?
This covers Hampton Roads Publishing Company (1989-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.