How to identify a first printing
- 1988–present: Independent UK publisher of plays, screenplays and theatre-craft books, founded June 1988 by Nicholas Hern (formerly of Methuen). First printing is identified by the verso 'First published in YYYY by Nick Hern Books' together with a descending number line whose lowest digit gives the printing; a first printing carries no reprint note and a line that runs down to 1. Note that published play texts often appear to coincide with a premiere, so a production or premiere note is a performance fact, not a bibliographic edition point.
- All eras: Reprints and revised texts add a 'Reprinted YYYY' or 'Revised YYYY' note and a shortened number line; a first printing has no such note and a line reaching 1. Treat the imprint name itself as a provenance marker only after January 1993, when the list became a fully independent company (it operated under Walker Books from 1988 and under Random House from 1990).
Notable points & cautions
- Leading UK house for contemporary playtexts and theatre craft, a rough counterpart to TCG/Dramatists Play Service in the US; publishes acting editions and the Drama Classics series.
- A number line reaching 1 plus a 'First published' statement marks a first printing; a production or premiere note is not a bibliographic point.
- Founding and early ownership are layered: imprint under Walker Books (1988), then Random House (1990), then independent (1993) — relevant when reading early copyright pages.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Nick Hern Books, NHB Modern Plays, Drama Classics series. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Nick Hern Books book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1988–present: Independent UK publisher of plays, screenplays and theatre-craft books, founded June 1988 by Nicholas Hern (formerly of Methuen). First printing is identified by the verso 'First published in YYYY by Nick Hern Books' together with a descending number line whose lowest digit gives the printing; a first printing carries no reprint note and a line that runs down to 1. Note that published play texts often appear to coincide with a premiere, so a production or premiere note is a performance fact, not a bibliographic edition point. All eras: Reprints and revised texts add a 'Reprinted YYYY' or 'Revised YYYY' note and a shortened number line; a first printing has no such note and a line reaching 1. Treat the imprint name itself as a provenance marker only after January 1993, when the list became a fully independent company (it operated under Walker Books from 1988 and under Random House from 1990).
Does Nick Hern Books use a number line?
All eras: Reprints and revised texts add a 'Reprinted YYYY' or 'Revised YYYY' note and a shortened number line; a first printing has no such note and a line reaching 1. Treat the imprint name itself as a provenance marker only after January 1993, when the list became a fully independent company (it operated under Walker Books from 1988 and under Random House from 1990).
Is a book-club edition a Nick Hern Books first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Leading UK house for contemporary playtexts and theatre craft, a rough counterpart to TCG/Dramatists Play Service in the US; publishes acting editions and the Drama Classics series.
What era does this cover?
This covers Nick Hern Books (1988–present (imprint under Walker Books 1988; under Random House 1990; fully independent from 1 January 1993)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.