How to identify a first printing
- Walter Hamady's press: limitation stated in the colophon; very small editions (often well under 200) printed on Hamady's own Shadwell handmade paper, whose handmade sheet and watermark are a key identifying point.
- Identify by Hamady's idiosyncratic typography and the colophon; many copies are signed by Hamady and/or the author/artist, with lettered/special states carrying extra material.
- Match to the Perishable Press and Gabberjabb checklists for exact limitation and state; these are single printings, not numbered-line reprints.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1964 in Detroit by Walter Hamady while still an undergraduate; first book was 'The Disillusioned Solipsist.' One of the most distinctive American private presses, it issued roughly 128 volumes over its run.
- Hamady's own Shadwell handmade paper (from his Shadwell Papermill) distinguishes genuine Perishable sheets; verify the sheet and watermark.
- The self-referential 'Interminable Gabberjabbs' series (begun 1973) is famously collected; premium attaches to lettered/special states and to copies retaining the laid-in ephemera the colophon calls for.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Perishable Press Limited book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Walter Hamady's press: limitation stated in the colophon; very small editions (often well under 200) printed on Hamady's own Shadwell handmade paper, whose handmade sheet and watermark are a key identifying point. Identify by Hamady's idiosyncratic typography and the colophon; many copies are signed by Hamady and/or the author/artist, with lettered/special states carrying extra material.
Does Perishable Press Limited use a number line?
Identify by Hamady's idiosyncratic typography and the colophon; many copies are signed by Hamady and/or the author/artist, with lettered/special states carrying extra material.
Is a book-club edition a Perishable Press Limited first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1964 in Detroit by Walter Hamady while still an undergraduate; first book was 'The Disillusioned Solipsist.' One of the most distinctive American private presses, it issued roughly 128 volumes over its run.
What era does this cover?
This covers Perishable Press Limited (1964-2000s). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.