The fastest check: First printing follows FSG house style: a number line ending in 1 on the copyright page, with a "First edition" plus year statement
How to identify a first printing
- First printing follows FSG house style: a number line ending in 1 on the copyright page, with a "First edition" plus year statement
Decode the printer's key: paste the number line into the number-line decoder, search any title in the First Edition Checker, or run a book through the identifier.
Notable points & cautions
- Sean McDonald's experimental literary imprint within Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Macmillan
- MCD x FSG Originals titles were paperback originals, so the paperback first printing is the true first
- FSG announced the closure of the MCD program in April 2026; Sean McDonald departed, and new titles move to FSG branding beginning fall 2026
Imprints
First editions also appear under: MCD, MCD x FSG Originals. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my MCD book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. First printing follows FSG house style: a number line ending in 1 on the copyright page, with a "First edition" plus year statement
Does MCD use a number line?
First printing follows FSG house style: a number line ending in 1 on the copyright page, with a "First edition" plus year statement
Is a book-club edition a MCD first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Sean McDonald's experimental literary imprint within Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Macmillan
What era does this cover?
This covers MCD (2016-2026). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.