How to identify a first printing
- Early titles (from 1969): the copyright page states 'First published ... by Osprey Publishing Ltd' with year and carries no later-printing notation; reprints add 'Reprinted 19xx' lines. A first printing has the sole 'First published' line and no reprint lines.
- Later titles: the copyright page lists 'First published [year]' and, on reprints, a stack of 'Reprinted' year lines; some titles also carry a number line ('10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1') where '1' indicates a first printing. For series titles the ABSENCE of any 'Reprinted' line below 'First published' is the key first-printing tell.
- All eras: Osprey numbers its series (e.g. 'Men-at-Arms 123'); the series number is NOT an edition indicator. Watch for later 'revised' or 'second edition' reissues of popular numbers, which are stated explicitly.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded in 1968 as a subsidiary of Berkshire Printing, part of the Brooke Bond Liebig tea company; it grew out of collectible aircraft cards in Brooke Bond tea packets, launching with Dick Ward's Aircam Aviation series in 1969 and the Men-at-Arms series (editor Philip Warner) in 1971.
- Vast color-plate military reference; collectibility is series- and artist-driven (e.g. early Men-at-Arms with Angus McBride plates).
- Owned over time by Reed/Octopus, then Random House, now Bloomsbury; the masthead changes but the 'First published / Reprinted' convention persists.
- US-market printings sometimes carry a different distributor line but the same UK first-published date.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Aircam Aviation series (first list, from 1969), Men-at-Arms series, Campaign series, New Vanguard series, Aircraft of the Aces / Combat Aircraft, Osprey Modelling, Elite, Fortress, Duel, Raid, Weapon. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Osprey Publishing book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Early titles (from 1969): the copyright page states 'First published ... by Osprey Publishing Ltd' with year and carries no later-printing notation; reprints add 'Reprinted 19xx' lines. A first printing has the sole 'First published' line and no reprint lines. Later titles: the copyright page lists 'First published [year]' and, on reprints, a stack of 'Reprinted' year lines; some titles also carry a number line ('10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1') where '1' indicates a first printing. For series titles the ABSENCE of any 'Reprinted' line below 'First published' is the key first-printing tell.
Does Osprey Publishing use a number line?
Later titles: the copyright page lists 'First published [year]' and, on reprints, a stack of 'Reprinted' year lines; some titles also carry a number line ('10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1') where '1' indicates a first printing. For series titles the ABSENCE of any 'Reprinted' line below 'First published' is the key first-printing tell.
Is a book-club edition a Osprey Publishing first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded in 1968 as a subsidiary of Berkshire Printing, part of the Brooke Bond Liebig tea company; it grew out of collectible aircraft cards in Brooke Bond tea packets, launching with Dick Ward's Aircam Aviation series in 1969 and the Men-at-Arms series (editor Philip Warner) in 1971.
What era does this cover?
This covers Osprey Publishing (1968/69-present (first title 1969; Men-at-Arms from 1971)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.