How to identify a first printing
- 1922-c.1960: As Australia's first university press, early titles follow the British convention: 'First published [year]' with 'Printed in Australia' and no reprint note on a first printing; later printings add 'Reprinted [year]'. The first book was Myra Willard's 'History of the White Australia Policy' (1923).
- c.1960-c.1990: 'First published [year] by Melbourne University Press' with '© [year]'; a first printing shows matching dates and no reprint line, with an Australian National Library CIP block appearing from the 1970s.
- c.1990-present: 'First published [year]' plus a descending number line (lowest digit = printing) and full ISBN/CIP data; the corporate name reads 'Melbourne University Publishing' from 2002. A complete line ending in 1 with no reprint note indicates a first printing. Number-line use follows the standard scholarly convention.
Notable points & cautions
- Commenced 1922 as Australia's first university press; its first book appeared in 1923.
- Privatised and renamed Melbourne University Publishing in 2002, so the 'Publishing' corporate wording dates a title to 2002 or later; the historic 'Melbourne University Press' imprint remains in use.
- The Miegunyah Press is an endowed quality/illustrated imprint of the house, not a separate publisher.
- Frank Wilmot ('Furnley Maurice') was an early manager, relevant to the provenance of 1930s titles.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Melbourne University Press, Melbourne University Publishing (corporate name from 2002), MUP Academic, The Miegunyah Press. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Melbourne University Press / Melbourne University Publishing book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1922-c.1960: As Australia's first university press, early titles follow the British convention: 'First published [year]' with 'Printed in Australia' and no reprint note on a first printing; later printings add 'Reprinted [year]'. The first book was Myra Willard's 'History of the White Australia Policy' (1923). c.1960-c.1990: 'First published [year] by Melbourne University Press' with '© [year]'; a first printing shows matching dates and no reprint line, with an Australian National Library CIP block appearing from the 1970s.
Does Melbourne University Press / Melbourne University Publishing use a number line?
c.1960-c.1990: 'First published [year] by Melbourne University Press' with '© [year]'; a first printing shows matching dates and no reprint line, with an Australian National Library CIP block appearing from the 1970s.
Is a book-club edition a Melbourne University Press / Melbourne University Publishing first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Commenced 1922 as Australia's first university press; its first book appeared in 1923.
What era does this cover?
This covers Melbourne University Press / Melbourne University Publishing (1922-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.