How to identify a first printing
- Modern HarperCollins: a stated "FIRST EDITION" on the copyright page together with a number line; on a first printing the number line descends to 1
- Historic Harper & Brothers / Harper & Row letter date code (used from 1912 and discontinued after 1949): a two-letter code on the copyright page where the FIRST letter is the month (A=Jan through M=Dec, skipping J) and the SECOND letter is the year. A code matching the stated copyright year, with no later code, indicates a first printing for that period
- Do NOT use the letter code to identify modern books: it was abandoned by mid-century, so post-1950 and especially post-1990 HarperCollins firsts are determined by the "FIRST EDITION" statement plus number line, not by a letter cipher
Notable points & cautions
- The Harper letter code is real but narrow in scope: it dates the printing for the 1912-1949 window only and is genuinely two letters (month, then year), not a single code; it cannot be relied on for any book after about 1949
- HarperCollins was formed in 1989 from Harper & Row and William Collins; pre-1989 conventions differ by predecessor house
- Modern HarperCollins firsts use "FIRST EDITION" plus a number line to 1
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Harper, Harper Perennial, Harper Perennial Modern Classics, Harper Voyager, Harper Wave, Harper Business, Harper Paperbacks, Amistad, HarperVia, Harper Muse. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Harper (flagship imprint) book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Modern HarperCollins: a stated "FIRST EDITION" on the copyright page together with a number line; on a first printing the number line descends to 1 Historic Harper & Brothers / Harper & Row letter date code (used from 1912 and discontinued after 1949): a two-letter code on the copyright page where the FIRST letter is the month (A=Jan through M=Dec, skipping J) and the SECOND letter is the year. A code matching the stated copyright year, with no later code, indicates a first printing for that period
Does Harper (flagship imprint) use a number line?
Historic Harper & Brothers / Harper & Row letter date code (used from 1912 and discontinued after 1949): a two-letter code on the copyright page where the FIRST letter is the month (A=Jan through M=Dec, skipping J) and the SECOND letter is the year. A code matching the stated copyright year, with no later code, indicates a first printing for that period
Is a book-club edition a Harper (flagship imprint) first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. The Harper letter code is real but narrow in scope: it dates the printing for the 1912-1949 window only and is genuinely two letters (month, then year), not a single code; it cannot be relied on for any book after about 1949
What era does this cover?
This covers Harper (flagship imprint) (1817-present (Harper lineage)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.