How to identify a first printing
- 1971-1980s (Sandlapper Press / early era): No consistent 'First Edition' slug; first printing is identified by a title-page date matching the copyright date together with the absence of any later-printing notation. The book operation grew out of Sandlapper magazine (founded 1968) and the early Sandlapper Press, with a tangled corporate history, so verify the actual imprint on the copyright page.
- 1980s-present (Sandlapper Publishing, Orangeburg): Standard regional small-press practice. A number line, where used, indicates the printing by its lowest number present (a '1' present means first printing); some titles state 'First printing.' Where there is no number line, a matching copyright date plus the absence of a printing statement indicates the first printing. Many South Carolina perennials are reprinted, so distinguish printing from edition.
Notable points & cautions
- Regional South Carolina/Southern independent (Orangeburg, SC) publishing history, travel, cooking, nature, photography, and folklore; descends from the Sandlapper magazine/press lineage, the magazine having been founded in 1968 by Robert P. Wilkins and his wife Rose.
- Distinguish 'Sandlapper Publishing' (the book house) from 'Sandlapper: The Magazine of South Carolina' (the periodical, which ran 1968-1983 and 1989-2011) and from the earlier Sandlapper Press.
- Long-tail house with limited bibliographic documentation; rely on copyright-page evidence.
- Strong reprint/perennial backlist (Lowcountry, Gullah, ghost-lore, recipes).
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Sandlapper Publishing, Sandlapper Store, The R.L. Bryan Company (related Columbia, SC printer/publisher). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Sandlapper Publishing Co. book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1971-1980s (Sandlapper Press / early era): No consistent 'First Edition' slug; first printing is identified by a title-page date matching the copyright date together with the absence of any later-printing notation. The book operation grew out of Sandlapper magazine (founded 1968) and the early Sandlapper Press, with a tangled corporate history, so verify the actual imprint on the copyright page. 1980s-present (Sandlapper Publishing, Orangeburg): Standard regional small-press practice. A number line, where used, indicates the printing by its lowest number present (a '1' present means first printing); some titles state 'First printing.' Where there is no number line, a matching copyright date plus the absence of a printing statement indicates the first printing. Many South Carolina perennials are reprinted, so distinguish printing from edition.
Does Sandlapper Publishing Co. use a number line?
1980s-present (Sandlapper Publishing, Orangeburg): Standard regional small-press practice. A number line, where used, indicates the printing by its lowest number present (a '1' present means first printing); some titles state 'First printing.' Where there is no number line, a matching copyright date plus the absence of a printing statement indicates the first printing. Many South Carolina perennials are reprinted, so distinguish printing from edition.
Is a book-club edition a Sandlapper Publishing Co. first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Regional South Carolina/Southern independent (Orangeburg, SC) publishing history, travel, cooking, nature, photography, and folklore; descends from the Sandlapper magazine/press lineage, the magazine having been founded in 1968 by Robert P. Wilkins and his wife Rose.
What era does this cover?
This covers Sandlapper Publishing Co. (1971-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.