How to identify a first printing
- Pre-1956: McGraw-Hill may not have used a first-edition statement at all. Where one appears, it is on the COPYRIGHT PAGE (not the title page); the safest pre-1956 signal is a single un-amended copyright date with no later-printing/reprint notice.
- From 1956 onward: adopted a consistent 'First Edition' statement on the COPYRIGHT PAGE and noted subsequent printings.
- From around 1972: began using a number line (number row), sometimes alongside a 'First Edition' statement. Absence of later printings supports a first, BUT note McGraw-Hill occasionally failed to remove the 'First Edition' statement from later printings, so once a number line is present the lowest number in the row is the more reliable indicator.
Notable points & cautions
- Primarily a technical/educational/reference publisher — for textbooks, 'edition' typically means a revised edition, NOT a first printing; treat textbook 'editions' with caution.
- Whittlesey House was McGraw-Hill's trade/general imprint (McGraw-Hill entered trade publishing under it in 1930) and is where most collectible vintage McGraw-Hill firsts appear.
- Pre-1956 practice was inconsistent; a single un-amended copyright date plus no reprint notice is the safest pre-1956 signal.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: McGraw-Hill, Whittlesey House (trade imprint, 1930s-1950s), Blakiston. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my McGraw-Hill Book Company book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Pre-1956: McGraw-Hill may not have used a first-edition statement at all. Where one appears, it is on the COPYRIGHT PAGE (not the title page); the safest pre-1956 signal is a single un-amended copyright date with no later-printing/reprint notice. From 1956 onward: adopted a consistent 'First Edition' statement on the COPYRIGHT PAGE and noted subsequent printings.
Does McGraw-Hill Book Company use a number line?
From 1956 onward: adopted a consistent 'First Edition' statement on the COPYRIGHT PAGE and noted subsequent printings.
Is a book-club edition a McGraw-Hill Book Company first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Primarily a technical/educational/reference publisher — for textbooks, 'edition' typically means a revised edition, NOT a first printing; treat textbook 'editions' with caution.
What era does this cover?
This covers McGraw-Hill Book Company (1909-1980s (consistent statement from 1956)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.