How to identify a first printing
- 1978-1980s: founded in 1978 by Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J.; on early titles a number line is not yet universal, so identify a first printing by the copyright year and the absence of a reprint notice. The Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat date the approval of the text, not the printing.
- 1980s-present: standard number line on the copyright page; the lowest digit present indicates the printing, so a line including 1 indicates a first printing.
- Many Ignatius titles are the first English-language or first US edition of European Catholic works (Balthasar, Ratzinger/Benedict XVI, de Lubac), so the Ignatius edition can be the true first in English even when the original German, French, or Italian predates it; identify the first English printing by Ignatius's first copyright year for the translation plus a clean impression line.
- Catholic-specific caution: read the impression or number line, not the Imprimatur date, to determine the printing.
Notable points & cautions
- Ignatius Press was founded in June 1978 by the Jesuit Fr. Joseph Fessio (with Carolyn Lemon) and is the leading orthodox/conservative American Catholic publisher; it is named for Ignatius of Loyola.
- It is the principal English-language publisher of Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), Hans Urs von Balthasar, and Henri de Lubac; translation firsts are the key collecting interest.
- It publishes the Ignatius Bible (RSV-Catholic Edition / RSV-2CE), with Bible text editions tracked separately from printings.
- The Imprimatur-date trap applies, and San Francisco may appear as a place or imprint line.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Ignatius Press, Communio Books, Ignatius Critical Editions, San Francisco (imprint/place line on some). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Ignatius Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1978-1980s: founded in 1978 by Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J.; on early titles a number line is not yet universal, so identify a first printing by the copyright year and the absence of a reprint notice. The Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat date the approval of the text, not the printing. 1980s-present: standard number line on the copyright page; the lowest digit present indicates the printing, so a line including 1 indicates a first printing.
Does Ignatius Press use a number line?
1980s-present: standard number line on the copyright page; the lowest digit present indicates the printing, so a line including 1 indicates a first printing.
Is a book-club edition a Ignatius Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Ignatius Press was founded in June 1978 by the Jesuit Fr. Joseph Fessio (with Carolyn Lemon) and is the leading orthodox/conservative American Catholic publisher; it is named for Ignatius of Loyola.
What era does this cover?
This covers Ignatius Press (1978-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.