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First-Edition Identification · US Trade Publishers

How to Identify a PublicAffairs First Edition

US (New York) · 1997–present

The fastest check: First printing: complete number line counting down to 1, following the Hachette Book Group house practice

How to identify a first printing

Decode the printer's key: paste the number line into the number-line decoder, search any title in the First Edition Checker, or run a book through the identifier.

Notable points & cautions

Imprints

First editions also appear under: PublicAffairs. Each generally follows the house convention above.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my PublicAffairs book is a first edition?

Check the copyright page. First printing: complete number line counting down to 1, following the Hachette Book Group house practice A 'First Edition' statement may appear on the copyright page but is not guaranteed; rely on the full number line

Does PublicAffairs use a number line?

A 'First Edition' statement may appear on the copyright page but is not guaranteed; rely on the full number line

Is a book-club edition a PublicAffairs first edition?

No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Politics and current-affairs nonfiction imprint, a full member of the Basic Books Group within Hachette Book Group

What era does this cover?

This covers PublicAffairs (1997–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.

More first-edition identification