How to identify a first printing
- Early Anansi (1967 through the 1970s) were small-run literary firsts often without number lines; identify by the original copyright-page year matching publication, the Anansi spider colophon/device, and the absence of any later-printing statement.
- Modern Anansi typically states 'First edition' and/or carries a number line on the copyright page; '1' present indicates a first printing.
- Cross-check against later printings: Anansi frequently reprinted breakout titles (for example Atwood's 'Survival', 1972, went through many printings), so a first must show the first-printing year with no 'second/third printing' line.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1967 by Dennis Lee and Dave Godfrey; a seminal CanLit nationalist press whose early list included Atwood's 'The Circle Game' and 'Survival', and work by Michael Ondaatje, George Grant, and bpNichol.
- Survival (1972) is heavily reprinted; the wrappered first printing is the desirable point, to be distinguished from the many softcover reprints.
- Groundwood Books (children's/YA, founded 1978, later under Anansi) follows its own imprint line; treat Groundwood titles under that imprint.
- Era change: restructured under Scott Griffin ownership in 2002, after which editions standardize the number-line and 'First edition' wording, so the convention is more reliable post-2002.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Anansi, Groundwood Books, Spiderline (crime imprint), Astoria (poetry, historic), Arachnide Editions (French, historic), House of Anansi Poetry. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my House of Anansi Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Early Anansi (1967 through the 1970s) were small-run literary firsts often without number lines; identify by the original copyright-page year matching publication, the Anansi spider colophon/device, and the absence of any later-printing statement. Modern Anansi typically states 'First edition' and/or carries a number line on the copyright page; '1' present indicates a first printing.
Does House of Anansi Press use a number line?
Modern Anansi typically states 'First edition' and/or carries a number line on the copyright page; '1' present indicates a first printing.
Is a book-club edition a House of Anansi Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1967 by Dennis Lee and Dave Godfrey; a seminal CanLit nationalist press whose early list included Atwood's 'The Circle Game' and 'Survival', and work by Michael Ondaatje, George Grant, and bpNichol.
What era does this cover?
This covers House of Anansi Press (1967-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.