How to Identify a Oxford University Press First Edition

How to identify a first printing

• Until the late 1980s OUP made NO affirmative first-edition statement; first printings carried only the copyright/publication line, while LATER printings were noted ('Reprinted 19xx,' 'Second impression') on the copyright page.
• From the late 1980s OUP adopted a number row/line on the copyright page; the lowest number present indicates the printing ('1' = first).
• Clarendon Press scholarly works follow the same conventions and often add impression/reprint dates.

Notable points & cautions

• Pre-late-1980s rule (per ILAB): NO statement on firsts, reprints noted — so 'no reprint line + earliest copyright date' is the working signal for older Oxford and Clarendon books.
• Oxford World's Classics and Oxford Paperbacks are reprint/series lines — not first printings of the original.
• OUP USA (New York) titles may show separate US printing histories from the UK edition; distinguish UK Clarendon firsts from US co-editions.
• This entry covers OUP's academic/trade scholarly output; a separate oxford-up entry already exists in the reference — this captures the era caveat and Clarendon specifically.

Imprints

First editions also appear under: Clarendon Press, Oxford World's Classics, Oxford Paperbacks, OUP USA (New York). Each generally follows the house convention above.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my Oxford University Press book is a first edition?

Check the copyright page. Until the late 1980s OUP made NO affirmative first-edition statement; first printings carried only the copyright/publication line, while LATER printings were noted ('Reprinted 19xx,' 'Second impression') on the copyright page. From the late 1980s OUP adopted a number row/line on the copyright page; the lowest number present indicates the printing ('1' = first).

Does Oxford University Press use a number line?

From the late 1980s OUP adopted a number row/line on the copyright page; the lowest number present indicates the printing ('1' = first).

Is a book-club edition a Oxford University Press first edition?

No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Pre-late-1980s rule (per ILAB): NO statement on firsts, reprints noted — so 'no reprint line + earliest copyright date' is the working signal for older Oxford and Clarendon books.

What era does this cover?

This covers Oxford University Press (first editions: no statement until late 1980s; number line late 1980s–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.