How to identify a first printing
- Modern Pantheon (Knopf Doubleday / PRH): states 'First Edition' on the copyright page AND uses a descending number line ending in 1.
- A true first has both the 'First Edition' statement and the 1 present; reprints drop 'First Edition' and/or the 1.
- Earlier Pantheon (pre-RH, founded 1942): identification by absence of additional printings and by stated 'First Edition' / 'First Printing' where present.
- Borzoi/Knopf-family typography appears on some post-merger Pantheon books.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1942 by Kurt Wolff and Helen Wolff; literary/intellectual list (Camus, Pasternak's Doctor Zhivago US, Boris Vian, graphic novels later — Maus).
- Acquired by Random House 1961; now part of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group within Penguin Random House.
- Follows the RH/Knopf 'First Edition' + line-to-1 convention in the modern era — among the cleaner houses to identify.
- Schocken (sister imprint, Jewish-interest) follows the same convention.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Schocken Books (sister). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Pantheon Books book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Modern Pantheon (Knopf Doubleday / PRH): states 'First Edition' on the copyright page AND uses a descending number line ending in 1. A true first has both the 'First Edition' statement and the 1 present; reprints drop 'First Edition' and/or the 1.
Does Pantheon Books use a number line?
A true first has both the 'First Edition' statement and the 1 present; reprints drop 'First Edition' and/or the 1.
Is a book-club edition a Pantheon Books first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1942 by Kurt Wolff and Helen Wolff; literary/intellectual list (Camus, Pasternak's Doctor Zhivago US, Boris Vian, graphic novels later — Maus).
What era does this cover?
This covers Pantheon Books (1942–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.