How to identify a first printing
- 1934–c.1959 (Iowa State College Press, before the college became a university in 1959): No first-printing statement; later printings/editions noted on the copyright page; a first printing shows matching title/copyright dates with no later-printing line.
- 1959–c.1975 (Iowa State University Press): Same convention; printing-history lists or 'Second printing' lines added on reprints.
- c.1975–2000: Number line on the copyright page; the lowest digit present indicates the printing; Library of Congress CIP block standard.
- Post-2000: The press merged into Blackwell Science (2000) and later Wiley (2007); titles after the merger carry the ISU Press imprint but were not produced in Ames — identify those by Blackwell/Wiley number-line conventions.
Notable points & cautions
- Imprint name tracks the institution: 'Iowa State College Press' before 1959, 'Iowa State University Press' after — a quick dating tell.
- Renowned for veterinary medicine, agriculture, and animal-science titles, its core list.
- Ceased as an independent press: merged with Blackwell (2000) and absorbed into Wiley (2007); the 'Iowa State Press' branding lingered briefly post-merger (renamed Blackwell Publishing Professional in 2004).
- Distinct from the University of Iowa Press in Iowa City — do not conflate the two Iowa presses.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Iowa State College Press, Iowa State University Press. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Iowa State University Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1934–c.1959 (Iowa State College Press, before the college became a university in 1959): No first-printing statement; later printings/editions noted on the copyright page; a first printing shows matching title/copyright dates with no later-printing line. 1959–c.1975 (Iowa State University Press): Same convention; printing-history lists or 'Second printing' lines added on reprints.
Does Iowa State University Press use a number line?
1959–c.1975 (Iowa State University Press): Same convention; printing-history lists or 'Second printing' lines added on reprints.
Is a book-club edition a Iowa State University Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Imprint name tracks the institution: 'Iowa State College Press' before 1959, 'Iowa State University Press' after — a quick dating tell.
What era does this cover?
This covers Iowa State University Press (1934–2000 (independent); ISU Press brand to c.2007). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.