How to identify a first printing
- 1965–c.1980: No first-printing statement on scholarly first editions; later printings/impressions noted; first printing = matching title/copyright dates with no later-impression line.
- c.1980–present: Number line on the copyright page; lowest number present indicates the printing, so a '1' present = first printing. Library of Congress CIP block standard.
- Black Squirrel Books (trade imprint): follows the same number-line convention; the imprint is named on the title page.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1965; scholarly publisher of Kent State University, nationally known for U.S. Civil War history, literary/textual scholarship and bibliography, and Ohio regional titles.
- Black Squirrel Books is its trade imprint, named for the black squirrels on the Kent campus, and is used in part to return out-of-print titles to circulation.
- One of three Ohio university presses — verify the imprint to avoid conflation with Ohio University Press (Athens) and Ohio State University Press (Columbus).
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Black Squirrel Books. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Kent State University Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1965–c.1980: No first-printing statement on scholarly first editions; later printings/impressions noted; first printing = matching title/copyright dates with no later-impression line. c.1980–present: Number line on the copyright page; lowest number present indicates the printing, so a '1' present = first printing. Library of Congress CIP block standard.
Does Kent State University Press use a number line?
c.1980–present: Number line on the copyright page; lowest number present indicates the printing, so a '1' present = first printing. Library of Congress CIP block standard.
Is a book-club edition a Kent State University Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1965; scholarly publisher of Kent State University, nationally known for U.S. Civil War history, literary/textual scholarship and bibliography, and Ohio regional titles.
What era does this cover?
This covers Kent State University Press (1965–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.