How to identify a first printing
- c.1950–c.1985: Small institutional/regional publisher (North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies at NDSU, founded 1950, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota, Bismarck). No explicit first-printing statement; later printings noted when they occur, so a first printing is consistent with matching title/copyright dates and no later-printing line.
- c.1985–2015: Number line on the copyright page where used (lowest number present indicates the printing); standard CIP/ISBN block on most titles. Many titles are single-printing regional monographs, so the absence of later-printing notation is consistent with a first printing.
- From January 2016: the NDIRS publishing program was renamed North Dakota State University Press. Titles bearing the 'North Dakota State University Press' imprint are 2016-or-later editions and follow that press's number-line conventions; do not treat them as the original NDIRS-imprint issues.
Notable points & cautions
- The North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies (North Dakota State University, Fargo, founded 1950) is the oldest Plains-studies center in the US and housed the state's only university-based press; it published as the NDIRS Press until renaming to North Dakota State University Press in January 2016.
- The State Historical Society of North Dakota (Bismarck) separately issues regional publications and the journal 'North Dakota History'.
- Very small print runs; institutional imprints sometimes appear in place of a conventional publisher line, so identify by matching dates and the absence of reprint notation.
- Grouped together because catalog records inconsistently attribute North Dakota regional titles to one body or the other; the NDSU-affiliated press and the Bismarck society are distinct organizations.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies Press (NDSU; renamed North Dakota State University Press in January 2016), State Historical Society of North Dakota. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my State Historical Society of North Dakota / North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. c.1950–c.1985: Small institutional/regional publisher (North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies at NDSU, founded 1950, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota, Bismarck). No explicit first-printing statement; later printings noted when they occur, so a first printing is consistent with matching title/copyright dates and no later-printing line. c.1985–2015: Number line on the copyright page where used (lowest number present indicates the printing); standard CIP/ISBN block on most titles. Many titles are single-printing regional monographs, so the absence of later-printing notation is consistent with a first printing.
Does State Historical Society of North Dakota / North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies use a number line?
c.1985–2015: Number line on the copyright page where used (lowest number present indicates the printing); standard CIP/ISBN block on most titles. Many titles are single-printing regional monographs, so the absence of later-printing notation is consistent with a first printing.
Is a book-club edition a State Historical Society of North Dakota / North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. The North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies (North Dakota State University, Fargo, founded 1950) is the oldest Plains-studies center in the US and housed the state's only university-based press; it published as the NDIRS Press until renaming to North Dakota State University Press in January 2016.
What era does this cover?
This covers State Historical Society of North Dakota / North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies (c.1950–2015 (NDIRS Press imprint); succeeded by North Dakota State University Press in January 2016). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.