How to identify a first printing
- 1934-c.1970 (founded 1934 by A. C. Kalmbach): hobby and model-railroad books. A first printing carries the sole original copyright date with no later-printing notation; subsequent printings add a 'Second printing' line, often with a date. First printing equals the original copyright year and no reprint line.
- c.1970-c.2000: the copyright page often states 'First printing, [year]' or carries a number line in which the lowest digit present indicates the printing. Spiral-bound how-to titles were frequently revised, so watch for 'Second edition' or 'Revised' statements that reset the printing sequence.
- c.2000-2024: number line standard; lowest digit present indicates the printing. Greenberg toy-train price and identification guides (acquired imprint) are dated, annual-style editions in which the stated edition number or year is the key identifier rather than a printing point.
- 2024-present: the railroad/hobby book lines were sold to Firecrown Media of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Firecrown reissues are not original Kalmbach first printings even where content matches; the imprint masthead is the divider.
Notable points & cautions
- Core publisher of model-railroading (Model Railroader) and railfan (Trains) book lines; landmark how-to titles are collected by hobbyists.
- Greenberg's toy-train guides (Lionel and others) are edition-by-edition price and identification guides where the stated edition or year is authoritative, not a first-printing point.
- The 2024 sale of the book and magazine lines to Firecrown Media is the modern ownership divider; the company itself was named Kalmbach Media in its later independent years.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Kalmbach Books, Model Railroader books, Trains books, Greenberg Publishing (toy-train guides, acquired 1991), Classic Toy Trains / Astronomy / FineScale Modeler book lines. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Kalmbach Publishing Co. book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1934-c.1970 (founded 1934 by A. C. Kalmbach): hobby and model-railroad books. A first printing carries the sole original copyright date with no later-printing notation; subsequent printings add a 'Second printing' line, often with a date. First printing equals the original copyright year and no reprint line. c.1970-c.2000: the copyright page often states 'First printing, [year]' or carries a number line in which the lowest digit present indicates the printing. Spiral-bound how-to titles were frequently revised, so watch for 'Second edition' or 'Revised' statements that reset the printing sequence.
Does Kalmbach Publishing Co. use a number line?
c.1970-c.2000: the copyright page often states 'First printing, [year]' or carries a number line in which the lowest digit present indicates the printing. Spiral-bound how-to titles were frequently revised, so watch for 'Second edition' or 'Revised' statements that reset the printing sequence.
Is a book-club edition a Kalmbach Publishing Co. first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Core publisher of model-railroading (Model Railroader) and railfan (Trains) book lines; landmark how-to titles are collected by hobbyists.
What era does this cover?
This covers Kalmbach Publishing Co. (1934-present (book lines to Firecrown 2024)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.