How to identify a first printing
- Stated 'First Edition' / 'First Melville House Printing: [year]' on the copyright page is common
- Descending number line ending in 1 on first printings (modern standard)
- Brooklyn (Hoboken origin) independent founded 2001 by Dennis Johnson and Valerie Merians; conventional identification
- Series titles (Art of the Novella, Neversink) are reprints of public-domain works — 'first' refers to the Melville House edition/printing, not the work
Notable points & cautions
- Many catalog titles are reissues of classics; a 'first edition' designation refers to Melville House's edition, so confirm it's the first Melville House printing via the number line
- Distinctive uniform series design (Art of the Novella) — no per-title points of issue
- No proprietary house key
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Melville House, Melville International Crime, The Neversink Library (series), The Art of the Novella (series). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Melville House Publishing book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Stated 'First Edition' / 'First Melville House Printing: [year]' on the copyright page is common Descending number line ending in 1 on first printings (modern standard)
Does Melville House Publishing use a number line?
Descending number line ending in 1 on first printings (modern standard)
Is a book-club edition a Melville House Publishing first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Many catalog titles are reissues of classics; a 'first edition' designation refers to Melville House's edition, so confirm it's the first Melville House printing via the number line
What era does this cover?
This covers Melville House Publishing (2001–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.