How to identify a first printing
- First printings carry the copyright line with no later-printing notice; subsequent printings/editions are stated. Modern titles add a number line where '1' = first printing.
- Copyright page commonly prints '9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' or similar; lowest figure = printing.
- Revised editions are explicitly dated and numbered (notably the many serial editions of reference/medical titles).
Notable points & cautions
- Johns Hopkins Paperbacks is a paperback reissue line — typically a later printing/issue, not the original first edition.
- Hopkins publishes heavily revised medical, reference, and scholarly serials where edition number matters more than printing — match the specific edition.
- Standard academic later-printing-noted convention for older books.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Johns Hopkins Paperbacks, Project MUSE (digital, not a print imprint). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Johns Hopkins University Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. First printings carry the copyright line with no later-printing notice; subsequent printings/editions are stated. Modern titles add a number line where '1' = first printing. Copyright page commonly prints '9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' or similar; lowest figure = printing.
Does Johns Hopkins University Press use a number line?
Copyright page commonly prints '9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' or similar; lowest figure = printing.
Is a book-club edition a Johns Hopkins University Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Johns Hopkins Paperbacks is a paperback reissue line — typically a later printing/issue, not the original first edition.
What era does this cover?
This covers Johns Hopkins University Press (1878–present (oldest continuously operating US university press; number lines standard later 20th c.)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.