How to identify a first printing
- c.1970-1973 (independent): First printings are most reliably identified by the absence of any later-printing or reprint statement on the copyright page. Do not rely on a number line as the primary signal for this short-lived imprint, since usage was not consistent.
- c.1973-c.1976 (under E.P. Dutton): Titles appear as 'Saturday Review Press / E.P. Dutton' or 'Saturday Review Press, distributed by E.P. Dutton' and follow Dutton's documented post-1929 practice, where a first printing is marked by a printed statement such as 'First Edition' or 'First Published [year]' on the copyright page. Absence of that statement, or any noted later printing, indicates it is not a first.
- Where a copy carries no statement at all, use the exact imprint wording plus jacket and price to date it within the c.1970-c.1976 window.
Notable points & cautions
- Book-publishing arm associated with the Saturday Review magazine; short-lived as an independent trade imprint.
- Brought under E.P. Dutton around 1973, appearing first as a joint or distributed-by imprint before the Saturday Review name was dropped.
- Records are sparse, so confirm identification by combining the imprint wording with jacket and price evidence.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Saturday Review Press, Saturday Review Press / E.P. Dutton (distributed-by / joint imprint, c.1973 onward). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Saturday Review Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. c.1970-1973 (independent): First printings are most reliably identified by the absence of any later-printing or reprint statement on the copyright page. Do not rely on a number line as the primary signal for this short-lived imprint, since usage was not consistent. c.1973-c.1976 (under E.P. Dutton): Titles appear as 'Saturday Review Press / E.P. Dutton' or 'Saturday Review Press, distributed by E.P. Dutton' and follow Dutton's documented post-1929 practice, where a first printing is marked by a printed statement such as 'First Edition' or 'First Published [year]' on the copyright page. Absence of that statement, or any noted later printing, indicates it is not a first.
Does Saturday Review Press use a number line?
c.1973-c.1976 (under E.P. Dutton): Titles appear as 'Saturday Review Press / E.P. Dutton' or 'Saturday Review Press, distributed by E.P. Dutton' and follow Dutton's documented post-1929 practice, where a first printing is marked by a printed statement such as 'First Edition' or 'First Published [year]' on the copyright page. Absence of that statement, or any noted later printing, indicates it is not a first.
Is a book-club edition a Saturday Review Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Book-publishing arm associated with the Saturday Review magazine; short-lived as an independent trade imprint.
What era does this cover?
This covers Saturday Review Press (c.1970-c.1976). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.