How to identify a first printing
- 1986-present (founded by Robert J. Yanosey; debut title 'Penn Central Power'): a first printing carries a single original copyright date and no later-printing notation. Reprints add a 'Second printing' or revised-date line, so a first equals the sole original copyright year with no reprint statement.
- Most titles are short-run and seldom reprinted, so the combination of the original copyright date and the absence of any 'reprint' or 'second printing' statement is the reliable first-printing tell.
- Series volumes are numbered (for example a railroad's 'In Color' Volume 1, 2, 3 and so on). The volume number is a series sequence, not an edition state: each volume is its own first edition.
Notable points & cautions
- Self-described leading publisher of all-color North American railroad books; collectibility is driven by title scarcity, with out-of-print volumes appreciating.
- Because print runs are small and reprints uncommon, a 'first' is often the only printing, so premiums come from scarcity rather than from issue points.
- Founded in 1986; the debut 'Penn Central Power' was a black-and-white photo history with a twelve-page color insert, and the all-color identity arrived with the later 'In Color' series.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Color Guide series, In Color series, Trackside series, Morning Sun Books. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Morning Sun Books, Inc. book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1986-present (founded by Robert J. Yanosey; debut title 'Penn Central Power'): a first printing carries a single original copyright date and no later-printing notation. Reprints add a 'Second printing' or revised-date line, so a first equals the sole original copyright year with no reprint statement. Most titles are short-run and seldom reprinted, so the combination of the original copyright date and the absence of any 'reprint' or 'second printing' statement is the reliable first-printing tell.
Does Morning Sun Books, Inc. use a number line?
Most titles are short-run and seldom reprinted, so the combination of the original copyright date and the absence of any 'reprint' or 'second printing' statement is the reliable first-printing tell.
Is a book-club edition a Morning Sun Books, Inc. first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Self-described leading publisher of all-color North American railroad books; collectibility is driven by title scarcity, with out-of-print volumes appreciating.
What era does this cover?
This covers Morning Sun Books, Inc. (1986-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.