How to identify a first printing
- 1931-1980s: First/only edition established by the COLOPHON limitation statement; small hand-set editions with no number line. The colophon names Saul and Lillian Marks, the type used, and the limitation (copy counts are typically small, e.g. on the order of 140-350 copies).
- 1931-1945 (early, Saul Marks): identify by the colophon and the Plantin Press imprint; confirm this is the LOS ANGELES Plantin Press of Saul Marks, not the historic Officina Plantiniana of Antwerp.
- 1945-1974 (mature): colophon-controlled; copy number commonly hand-inscribed; many works printed for the Zamorano Club, Dawson's Book Shop, and private patrons, with Plantin named as printer in the colophon.
Notable points & cautions
- Do NOT confuse with the 16th-century Officina Plantiniana of Christophe Plantin in Antwerp; this is a separate 20th-century American private press founded by Saul and Lillian Marks in 1931.
- Saul Marks is regarded as one of the finest American typographers, and design precision is an authenticity tell.
- Lillian Marks continued the press briefly after Saul's death in 1974; a published bibliography of the Plantin Press of Saul and Lillian Marks (covering 1930-1985) documents the output.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Plantin Press (Los Angeles) book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1931-1980s: First/only edition established by the COLOPHON limitation statement; small hand-set editions with no number line. The colophon names Saul and Lillian Marks, the type used, and the limitation (copy counts are typically small, e.g. on the order of 140-350 copies). 1931-1945 (early, Saul Marks): identify by the colophon and the Plantin Press imprint; confirm this is the LOS ANGELES Plantin Press of Saul Marks, not the historic Officina Plantiniana of Antwerp.
Does Plantin Press (Los Angeles) use a number line?
1931-1945 (early, Saul Marks): identify by the colophon and the Plantin Press imprint; confirm this is the LOS ANGELES Plantin Press of Saul Marks, not the historic Officina Plantiniana of Antwerp.
Is a book-club edition a Plantin Press (Los Angeles) first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Do NOT confuse with the 16th-century Officina Plantiniana of Christophe Plantin in Antwerp; this is a separate 20th-century American private press founded by Saul and Lillian Marks in 1931.
What era does this cover?
This covers Plantin Press (Los Angeles) (1931-c.1985). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.