How to identify a first printing
- Copyright page carries a descending number line ('10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'); the lowest number present indicates the printing — a '1' = first printing. This is MIT Press's standard modern convention.
- Older/first printings may state 'First MIT Press edition' or 'First printing, 19xx'; later printings are noted on the copyright page.
- Revised editions are dated and numbered.
Notable points & cautions
- Bradford Books (cognitive science/philosophy of mind imprint, e.g., Dennett titles) is an MIT Press imprint and follows MIT Press copyright-page conventions; a 'Bradford Book' line is an imprint identifier, not a printing indicator.
- MIT technical/textbook titles reprint heavily with an unchanged copyright year — the number line is essential; do not infer first printing from the copyright date alone.
- Some co-publications with other houses show that partner's printing history.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Bradford Books, Zone Books (distributed), Boston Review Books, Strong Ideas series, Leonardo Books. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my MIT Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Copyright page carries a descending number line ('10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'); the lowest number present indicates the printing — a '1' = first printing. This is MIT Press's standard modern convention. Older/first printings may state 'First MIT Press edition' or 'First printing, 19xx'; later printings are noted on the copyright page.
Does MIT Press use a number line?
Older/first printings may state 'First MIT Press edition' or 'First printing, 19xx'; later printings are noted on the copyright page.
Is a book-club edition a MIT Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Bradford Books (cognitive science/philosophy of mind imprint, e.g., Dennett titles) is an MIT Press imprint and follows MIT Press copyright-page conventions; a 'Bradford Book' line is an imprint identifier, not a printing indicator.
What era does this cover?
This covers MIT Press (1962–present (number line standard)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.
MIT Press 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.
- A History of New York (Knickerbocker's History) (Washington Irving (as 'Diedrich Knickerbocker'), 1809)
- History of the Expedition under the Command of Captains Lewis and Clark (Meriwether Lewis and William Clark (prepared for publication by Paul Allen, from Nicholas Biddle's narrative), 1814)
- Mama's Little Girl (Erskine Caldwell, 1932)