How to identify a first printing
- A reprint house: copyright pages of the trade paperbacks carry a Rue Morgue edition/printing statement (often noting the reissue and its date); identification hinges on that Rue Morgue edition statement rather than a true first-edition number line.
- Each title includes a signed editorial introduction by Tom and Enid Schantz — a reliable house tell that the copy is a Rue Morgue issue.
- Volumes are uniform trade paperbacks with series numbering; the first Rue Morgue printing is dated on the copyright page where stated.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded in 1997 by Tom and Enid Schantz; specialized in reviving Golden Age and classic detective authors (Gladys Mitchell, Norbert Davis, John Dickson Carr, Catherine Aird, and others). The press ceased publishing in 2016 following Tom Schantz's death (Enid Schantz had died in 2011).
- Texts are reprints, so these are 'first thus' collectibles, valued for the introductions and for returning scarce out-of-print titles to print, not as original first editions.
- Because the line is finite and the press is now defunct, complete-run and scarce-title firsts hold modest collector interest.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Rue Morgue Press. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Rue Morgue Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. A reprint house: copyright pages of the trade paperbacks carry a Rue Morgue edition/printing statement (often noting the reissue and its date); identification hinges on that Rue Morgue edition statement rather than a true first-edition number line. Each title includes a signed editorial introduction by Tom and Enid Schantz — a reliable house tell that the copy is a Rue Morgue issue.
Does Rue Morgue Press use a number line?
Each title includes a signed editorial introduction by Tom and Enid Schantz — a reliable house tell that the copy is a Rue Morgue issue.
Is a book-club edition a Rue Morgue Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded in 1997 by Tom and Enid Schantz; specialized in reviving Golden Age and classic detective authors (Gladys Mitchell, Norbert Davis, John Dickson Carr, Catherine Aird, and others). The press ceased publishing in 2016 following Tom Schantz's death (Enid Schantz had died in 2011).
What era does this cover?
This covers Rue Morgue Press (1997–2016). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.