How to identify a first printing
- 1961-c.1990s: first printings carry the Mirage Press (later Mirage Press, Ltd.) imprint. Many early titles are tiny runs in wrappers or boards; the imprint together with a stated low print figure identifies the first. Mirage on Lovecraft: A Literary View (1965) was issued in roughly 200 numbered copies.
- Some scholarly titles state a print quantity or carry a numbered limitation/colophon page; for early fan-produced items the imprint and physical format (stapled wrappers vs. later hardcover) indicate state.
- Hardcover trade and occasional signed/limited states exist for later titles - check for a limitation or colophon page to separate states.
Notable points & cautions
- Grew out of Jack L. Chalker's fanzine Mirage (1960-1971); Chalker founded Mirage Press in 1961, specializing in SF/fantasy scholarship and bibliography.
- Published Mirage on Lovecraft: A Literary View (1965) and the Chalker/Owings Revised H.P. Lovecraft Bibliography.
- Co-run with Mark Owings; an early outlet for Lovecraft and SF reference scholarship.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Mirage Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1961-c.1990s: first printings carry the Mirage Press (later Mirage Press, Ltd.) imprint. Many early titles are tiny runs in wrappers or boards; the imprint together with a stated low print figure identifies the first. Mirage on Lovecraft: A Literary View (1965) was issued in roughly 200 numbered copies. Some scholarly titles state a print quantity or carry a numbered limitation/colophon page; for early fan-produced items the imprint and physical format (stapled wrappers vs. later hardcover) indicate state.
Does Mirage Press use a number line?
Some scholarly titles state a print quantity or carry a numbered limitation/colophon page; for early fan-produced items the imprint and physical format (stapled wrappers vs. later hardcover) indicate state.
Is a book-club edition a Mirage Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Grew out of Jack L. Chalker's fanzine Mirage (1960-1971); Chalker founded Mirage Press in 1961, specializing in SF/fantasy scholarship and bibliography.
What era does this cover?
This covers Mirage Press (1961-c.1990s). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.