How to Identify a Harvill Press First Edition

How to identify a first printing

• Copyright page states 'First published [year]' or 'First published in Great Britain [year]' under the named imprint (The Harvill Press, or Collins Harvill / Collins and Harvill Press in the HarperCollins era).
• Descending number line; the lowest digit present indicates the impression, with a first printing ending in '1'.
• Translated-literature house: many firsts cite the original-language first publication separately and state the English translation date. The line naming the Harvill imprint identifies the English first edition.

Notable points & cautions

• Specialist in literature in translation (the UK Doctor Zhivago, Lampedusa, Sebald, Magris). The English-translation first is distinct from the earlier original-language edition. The 1958 UK Doctor Zhivago carries the 'Collins and Harvill Press' imprint, translated by Max Hayward and Manya Harari.
• Imprint lineage: Harvill Press to Collins Harvill (under HarperCollins) to independent again in 1995, then merged with Secker & Warburg as Harvill Secker (Random House) in 2005.
• Each ownership era changes the imprint name on the copyright page; the named imprint helps date the printing.

Imprints

First editions also appear under: The Harvill Press, Harvill, Collins Harvill (1980s–90s under HarperCollins), Harvill Secker (merged with Secker & Warburg 2005). Each generally follows the house convention above.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my Harvill Press book is a first edition?

Check the copyright page. Copyright page states 'First published [year]' or 'First published in Great Britain [year]' under the named imprint (The Harvill Press, or Collins Harvill / Collins and Harvill Press in the HarperCollins era). Descending number line; the lowest digit present indicates the impression, with a first printing ending in '1'.

Does Harvill Press use a number line?

Descending number line; the lowest digit present indicates the impression, with a first printing ending in '1'.

Is a book-club edition a Harvill Press first edition?

No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Specialist in literature in translation (the UK Doctor Zhivago, Lampedusa, Sebald, Magris). The English-translation first is distinct from the earlier original-language edition. The 1958 UK Doctor Zhivago carries the 'Collins and Harvill Press' imprint, translated by Max Hayward and Manya Harari.

What era does this cover?

This covers Harvill Press (1946–2005 (continued as Harvill Secker)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.