How to identify a first printing
- Frank Stanford era (1976-1978): hand-assembled chapbooks and small letterpress/offset runs; first/only printing identified by colophon or a simple copyright statement. Runs were tiny, so most titles are single printings.
- First printing generally identified by absence of any later-printing notice; some titles state 'first edition.' Number lines are inconsistent on early titles, so do not rely on a number line being present.
- On signed/numbered titles the colophon states the size of the limitation; numbered copies are the limited issue.
- C.D. Wright / Forrest Gander era (post-1978): generally one printing per title; the rare later printing is stated on the copyright page.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1976 in Fayetteville, Arkansas by poet Frank Stanford. C.D. Wright's 'Room Rented by a Single Woman' (1977) was the press's first release.
- After Stanford's death in 1978, editorship passed to C.D. Wright; she later co-edited with Forrest Gander, and the press moved to Providence, RI.
- Highly collectible for Frank Stanford material and early C.D. Wright; small runs make first printings scarce. Posthumously co-published Stanford's book-length 'The Battlefield Where the Moon Says I Love You' with Mill Mountain Press.
- Mission centered on Southern/Arkansas poets and overlooked voices; the press released more than 120 titles over its history.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Lost Roads Publishers, Lost Roads Press (variant on imprint). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Lost Roads Publishers book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Frank Stanford era (1976-1978): hand-assembled chapbooks and small letterpress/offset runs; first/only printing identified by colophon or a simple copyright statement. Runs were tiny, so most titles are single printings. First printing generally identified by absence of any later-printing notice; some titles state 'first edition.' Number lines are inconsistent on early titles, so do not rely on a number line being present.
Does Lost Roads Publishers use a number line?
First printing generally identified by absence of any later-printing notice; some titles state 'first edition.' Number lines are inconsistent on early titles, so do not rely on a number line being present.
Is a book-club edition a Lost Roads Publishers first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1976 in Fayetteville, Arkansas by poet Frank Stanford. C.D. Wright's 'Room Rented by a Single Woman' (1977) was the press's first release.
What era does this cover?
This covers Lost Roads Publishers (1976-present (Stanford era 1976-1978; C.D. Wright/Forrest Gander era from 1978; Susan Scarlata executive editor from 2009)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.