How to identify a first printing
- British convention: the first printing carries a complete descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; the lowest digit present indicates the printing
- Generally NO 'First edition' statement. Identify by the full number line together with the 'First published in [year] by Nosy Crow Ltd' line
Notable points & cautions
- UK independent founded in 2010 by Kate Wilson (with Adrian Soar and Camilla Reid); first books published January 2011. Strong novelty, board-book and app-linked children's list; named Independent Publisher of the Year at the 2020 British Book Awards
- US co-editions are distributed via partner houses and postdate the UK first, so the true first is the UK Nosy Crow printing
- A newer house, so virtually all titles sit firmly in the modern number-line era. The convention is reliable, though few individually documented collectible points exist yet
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Nosy Crow, Nosy Crow US (distributed via partner houses), Nosy Crow Classics. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Nosy Crow book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. British convention: the first printing carries a complete descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; the lowest digit present indicates the printing Generally NO 'First edition' statement. Identify by the full number line together with the 'First published in [year] by Nosy Crow Ltd' line
Does Nosy Crow use a number line?
Generally NO 'First edition' statement. Identify by the full number line together with the 'First published in [year] by Nosy Crow Ltd' line
Is a book-club edition a Nosy Crow first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. UK independent founded in 2010 by Kate Wilson (with Adrian Soar and Camilla Reid); first books published January 2011. Strong novelty, board-book and app-linked children's list; named Independent Publisher of the Year at the 2020 British Book Awards
What era does this cover?
This covers Nosy Crow (2011-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.