How to identify a first printing
- First printing shows a complete number line counting down to 1 with no later-printing notice
- Typically paired with a stated "First Edition" on the copyright page, following Henry Holt/Macmillan practice
Notable points & cautions
- Literary and political-nonfiction imprint within Henry Holt at Macmillan, co-founded by Sara Bershtel in 1995
- Published authors including Atul Gawande, Barbara Ehrenreich, Thomas Frank, and Susan Faludi
- Identification follows Holt/Macmillan conventions, not any imprint-specific rule
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Metropolitan, Metropolitan Books. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Metropolitan Books book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. First printing shows a complete number line counting down to 1 with no later-printing notice Typically paired with a stated "First Edition" on the copyright page, following Henry Holt/Macmillan practice
Does Metropolitan Books use a number line?
Typically paired with a stated "First Edition" on the copyright page, following Henry Holt/Macmillan practice
Is a book-club edition a Metropolitan Books first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Literary and political-nonfiction imprint within Henry Holt at Macmillan, co-founded by Sara Bershtel in 1995
What era does this cover?
This covers Metropolitan Books (1995–2022). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.
Metropolitan Books titles with documented first-edition points
Each link opens that title’s specific points of issue — the exact marks that separate a true first printing from a later one.
- Footnotes in Gaza (Joe Sacco, 2009)