How to identify a first printing
- First printings show a descending number line ending in '1' on the copyright page; the lowest digit indicates the printing.
- Many titles simply give a copyright year, in which case a first printing is inferred from the absence of any reprint notice.
- Classics of Western Spirituality volumes are dated by each volume's own copyright/first-printing year.
Notable points & cautions
- Publishing ministry of the Paulist Fathers (Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle, founded 1858); broad Catholic, ecumenical, and interfaith list. The press began as The Columbus Press in 1881 and became Paulist Press in 1913.
- Acquired Newman Press in 1962, an older Catholic scholarly imprint with bookstores in Baltimore and Washington; older Newman Press books predate that acquisition and follow looser, earlier conventions, often stating nothing.
- The 'Classics of Western Spirituality,' published since 1978, is a long, frequently reprinted series; individual volumes' firsts are identified by the number line, and later printings of popular volumes are common.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Newman Press, HiddenSpring, The Classics of Western Spirituality (series), Stimulus Books. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Paulist Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. First printings show a descending number line ending in '1' on the copyright page; the lowest digit indicates the printing. Many titles simply give a copyright year, in which case a first printing is inferred from the absence of any reprint notice.
Does Paulist Press use a number line?
Many titles simply give a copyright year, in which case a first printing is inferred from the absence of any reprint notice.
Is a book-club edition a Paulist Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Publishing ministry of the Paulist Fathers (Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle, founded 1858); broad Catholic, ecumenical, and interfaith list. The press began as The Columbus Press in 1881 and became Paulist Press in 1913.
What era does this cover?
This covers Paulist Press (Columbus Press founded 1881; renamed Paulist Press 1913; present–day). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.