How to identify a first printing
- Identify by the edition statement plus the copyright-page number line; the lowest digit indicates the printing, and on a first printing the stated edition's year should be the earliest (and only) year listed.
- 1973-1980s: founded by Bill Dalton; the Indonesia Handbook is the origin title (it grew out of Dalton's self-published Southeast Asia travel notes). Early 'Moon Publications, Chico CA' imprints; first printings are identified by that imprint and the single debut copyright year.
- 1990s: 'Moon Travel Handbooks' branding; a standard descending number line appears, with the first printing showing the debut year only.
- 2000s-present: absorbed into Avalon Travel Publishing (later Perseus Books, now part of Hachette Book Group); the copyright page uses a conventional number line plus an explicit edition statement ('Second Edition', etc.) — first printing = lowest number and earliest date.
Notable points & cautions
- Bill Dalton's 1970s Asia handbooks are the origin, with the Indonesia Handbook as the foundational title; the 'Moon Publications, Chico CA' imprint marks the early independent era.
- The imprint chain (Moon Publications → Avalon Travel → Perseus → Hachette) brackets era and copyright-page format.
- Standard US number-line identification from the 1990s onward, with an edition number stated for revised titles.
- Strong on independent and regional US and Asian titles often not covered by the larger guidebook houses.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Moon Handbooks, Moon Travel Guides, Moon Spotlight, Moon Metro. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Moon (Moon Travel Handbooks / Moon Publications) book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Identify by the edition statement plus the copyright-page number line; the lowest digit indicates the printing, and on a first printing the stated edition's year should be the earliest (and only) year listed. 1973-1980s: founded by Bill Dalton; the Indonesia Handbook is the origin title (it grew out of Dalton's self-published Southeast Asia travel notes). Early 'Moon Publications, Chico CA' imprints; first printings are identified by that imprint and the single debut copyright year.
Does Moon (Moon Travel Handbooks / Moon Publications) use a number line?
1973-1980s: founded by Bill Dalton; the Indonesia Handbook is the origin title (it grew out of Dalton's self-published Southeast Asia travel notes). Early 'Moon Publications, Chico CA' imprints; first printings are identified by that imprint and the single debut copyright year.
Is a book-club edition a Moon (Moon Travel Handbooks / Moon Publications) first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Bill Dalton's 1970s Asia handbooks are the origin, with the Indonesia Handbook as the foundational title; the 'Moon Publications, Chico CA' imprint marks the early independent era.
What era does this cover?
This covers Moon (Moon Travel Handbooks / Moon Publications) (1973-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.