How to Identify a Sceptre First Edition

How to identify a first printing

• Copyright page states 'First published in [year] by Hodder & Stoughton'; Sceptre is the literary imprint label carried on the title page and spine.
• Descending number line; a first printing ends in '1'.
• Follows Hodder & Stoughton conventions, which have consistently used 'First published in [year]' on firsts (with later printings noted) since 1976.

Notable points & cautions

• Founded 1986 as Hodder & Stoughton's literary imprint, sitting alongside the mass-market Coronet and NEL lines; identification conventions track Hodder's.
• David Mitchell, Jodi Picoult (UK), Melvyn Bragg ('The Maid of Buttermere'), and Charles Frazier ('Cold Mountain', 1997) have appeared under Sceptre.
• Sceptre originally published in paperback only (early list included Thomas Keneally's 'Schindler's Ark'); hardcover lines came later, so for an early title confirm whether a hardcover first actually exists before assuming one.

Imprints

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

Frequently asked questions

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

Check the copyright page. Copyright page states 'First published in [year] by Hodder & Stoughton'; Sceptre is the literary imprint label carried on the title page and spine. Descending number line; a first printing ends in '1'.

Does Sceptre use a number line?

Descending number line; a first printing ends in '1'.

Is a book-club edition a Sceptre first edition?

No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1986 as Hodder & Stoughton's literary imprint, sitting alongside the mass-market Coronet and NEL lines; identification conventions track Hodder's.

What era does this cover?

This covers Sceptre (1986–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.