How to identify a first printing
- Independent era (1974-2001, San Rafael/Novato, CA): the first printing is identified by a COMPLETE number line on the copyright page, '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'; the presence of '1' signals a first printing. Some titles also state 'First edition' or 'First printing'.
- Random House era (from 2002, published as Presidio Press/Ballantine): Random House house convention applies, the first trade printing states 'First Edition' AND carries a number line ending in 1; on a stated first edition the line '9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' confirms the first printing. If 'First Edition' is removed and the lowest number is 2 or higher, it is a later printing.
- All eras: for military memoirs and unit histories (e.g. 'With the Old Breed', first published by Presidio in 1981) verify the San Rafael/Novato imprint and the complete 1-10 line for the true Presidio first, distinct from later Ballantine mass-market reprints.
Notable points & cautions
- A premier independent US military-history house of its era; firsts of Vietnam and WWII memoirs (e.g. Keith Nolan's battle narratives) are actively collected.
- Post-acquisition Random House digit-line-plus-statement rule supersedes the earlier complete-number-line-only rule.
- Acquired by Random House (Ballantine) on February 22, 2002; the San Rafael/Novato address on the copyright page signals the independent, more collectible era.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Presidio Press (independent), Presidio Press / Ballantine Books (post-2002, Random House). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Presidio Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Independent era (1974-2001, San Rafael/Novato, CA): the first printing is identified by a COMPLETE number line on the copyright page, '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'; the presence of '1' signals a first printing. Some titles also state 'First edition' or 'First printing'. Random House era (from 2002, published as Presidio Press/Ballantine): Random House house convention applies, the first trade printing states 'First Edition' AND carries a number line ending in 1; on a stated first edition the line '9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' confirms the first printing. If 'First Edition' is removed and the lowest number is 2 or higher, it is a later printing.
Does Presidio Press use a number line?
Random House era (from 2002, published as Presidio Press/Ballantine): Random House house convention applies, the first trade printing states 'First Edition' AND carries a number line ending in 1; on a stated first edition the line '9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' confirms the first printing. If 'First Edition' is removed and the lowest number is 2 or higher, it is a later printing.
Is a book-club edition a Presidio Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. A premier independent US military-history house of its era; firsts of Vietnam and WWII memoirs (e.g. Keith Nolan's battle narratives) are actively collected.
What era does this cover?
This covers Presidio Press (1974-c.2010). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.