The fastest check: Modern convention: copyright page states 'First Edition' typically with a descending number line; lowest digit (1) = first printing.
How to identify a first printing
- Modern convention: copyright page states 'First Edition' typically with a descending number line; lowest digit (1) = first printing.
- First has no later-printing notice.
Decode the printer's key: paste the number line into the number-line decoder, or run any book through the first-edition identifier.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1994 in Louisville, Kentucky by Sarah Gorham and Jeffrey Skinner; nonprofit poetry and short-prose press.
- Awards-driven list (Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry, Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction); relatively young press so modern conventions apply throughout.
- Chapbooks (Quarternote series) are small-run and may be numbered/limited — check for a colophon.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Quarternote Chapbook Series, Linda Bruckheimer Series in Kentucky Literature. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Sarabande Books book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Modern convention: copyright page states 'First Edition' typically with a descending number line; lowest digit (1) = first printing. First has no later-printing notice.
Does Sarabande Books use a number line?
First has no later-printing notice.
Is a book-club edition a Sarabande Books first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1994 in Louisville, Kentucky by Sarah Gorham and Jeffrey Skinner; nonprofit poetry and short-prose press.
What era does this cover?
This covers Sarabande Books (1994–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.