The fastest check: “First Edition” or “First Printing” statement
How to identify a first printing
- “First Edition” or “First Printing” statement
- Number line (late 1970s–present)
Decode the printer's key: paste the number line into the number-line decoder, or run any book through the first-edition identifier.
Notable points & cautions
- The Catcher in the Rye (1951) first states “First Edition” cleanly; its points of issue concern the jacket (Lotte Jacobi rear-panel photo, price position).
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Little, Brown and Company book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. “First Edition” or “First Printing” statement Number line (late 1970s–present)
Does Little, Brown and Company use a number line?
Number line (late 1970s–present)
Is a book-club edition a Little, Brown and Company first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. The Catcher in the Rye (1951) first states “First Edition” cleanly; its points of issue concern the jacket (Lotte Jacobi rear-panel photo, price position).
What era does this cover?
This covers Little, Brown and Company. Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.