How to identify a first printing
- Modern firsts use a copyright-page number line where present; a terminating 1 indicates a first printing, and later printings add stacked printing years or 'Second printing' notices.
- Important caveat: not all LSU firsts carry a number line. Older titles, and some landmark ones, state neither 'First Edition' nor a printing line. For these, identify a first by a single matching copyright year with no later-printing notice, supplemented by title-specific points.
- Do not assume a number line is required; check a reliable bibliography or dealer point-guide for the specific title before concluding.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1935; one of the oldest university presses in the South, with strong Southern history and literature lists and multiple Pulitzer Prizes.
- Published John Kennedy Toole's 'A Confederacy of Dunces' (1980), a landmark collectible university-press first. The 2,500-copy first printing carries neither a 'First Edition' nor a 'First Printing' statement and has no number line; it is identified by the absence of any later-printing notice plus dust-jacket state.
- For 'A Confederacy of Dunces' the primary point is the first-state jacket: stars present in the night sky on front, spine, and rear. After the first printing the production manager removed the stars and intensified the blue of the title, producing the second-state jacket. A Walker Percy introduction/blurb is present on the first-issue jacket.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: LSU Press. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Louisiana State University Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Modern firsts use a copyright-page number line where present; a terminating 1 indicates a first printing, and later printings add stacked printing years or 'Second printing' notices. Important caveat: not all LSU firsts carry a number line. Older titles, and some landmark ones, state neither 'First Edition' nor a printing line. For these, identify a first by a single matching copyright year with no later-printing notice, supplemented by title-specific points.
Does Louisiana State University Press use a number line?
Important caveat: not all LSU firsts carry a number line. Older titles, and some landmark ones, state neither 'First Edition' nor a printing line. For these, identify a first by a single matching copyright year with no later-printing notice, supplemented by title-specific points.
Is a book-club edition a Louisiana State University Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1935; one of the oldest university presses in the South, with strong Southern history and literature lists and multiple Pulitzer Prizes.
What era does this cover?
This covers Louisiana State University Press (1935-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.