How to identify a first printing
- Originals carry a stated "FIRST EDITION" with a number line descending to 1 on a first printing
- First-thus reprints are labeled with wording such as "First Mariner Books edition [year]" on the copyright page
Notable points & cautions
- Mariner was Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's trade paperback imprint; HarperCollins acquired the HMH trade division (including Mariner) in 2021, completing the deal in May and rebranding adult HMH trade titles as Mariner Books in July 2021
- Era/ownership is the key caveat: pre-2021 Mariner/HMH titles follow Houghton Mifflin Harcourt conventions, while post-2021 Mariner is a HarperCollins group
- Many Mariner editions are paperback reprints rather than true first editions of the work
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Mariner, Mariner Books Classics. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Mariner Books book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Originals carry a stated "FIRST EDITION" with a number line descending to 1 on a first printing First-thus reprints are labeled with wording such as "First Mariner Books edition [year]" on the copyright page
Does Mariner Books use a number line?
First-thus reprints are labeled with wording such as "First Mariner Books edition [year]" on the copyright page
Is a book-club edition a Mariner Books first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Mariner was Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's trade paperback imprint; HarperCollins acquired the HMH trade division (including Mariner) in 2021, completing the deal in May and rebranding adult HMH trade titles as Mariner Books in July 2021
What era does this cover?
This covers Mariner Books (as HMH paperback line 1990s-2021; HarperCollins 2021-). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.