How to identify a first printing
- Schiffer is a heavily-illustrated reference and antiques house founded in 1974. Like most US trade publishers of its era, a Schiffer first printing carries a single copyright year and no later-printing notation; a stated 'Second printing' or an added later date indicates a reprint.
- On more recent titles Schiffer prints a number line on the copyright page. As with the general industry convention, the lowest digit present indicates the printing, so a line still containing '1' is a first printing. The exact year Schiffer adopted the number line is not documented in standard references, so read the line itself rather than relying on a fixed cutoff date.
- Cornell Maritime Press and Tidewater Publishers are acquired imprints (Schiffer bought them in 2009). Pre-acquisition Cornell/Tidewater titles follow the older no-notation-on-first convention; later Schiffer reissues follow whatever notation appears on that printing's copyright page.
Notable points & cautions
- Schiffer Military History is a leading source of heavily illustrated WWII equipment and unit references; out-of-print firsts are sought by collectors.
- Cornell Maritime Press was founded in 1938 in New York City by Felix Cornell to supply US Merchant Marine textbooks, later moving to Maryland; Tidewater Publishers was founded in 1955 for regional Chesapeake titles. Schiffer acquired both in 2009.
- Large-format color references are frequently reprinted with the same cover art, so judge state by the copyright-page printing notation rather than the jacket.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Schiffer Military History, Schiffer Aviation History, Cornell Maritime Press, Tidewater Publishers, Schiffer Craft, REDFeather Mind Body Spirit. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Schiffer Publishing book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Schiffer is a heavily-illustrated reference and antiques house founded in 1974. Like most US trade publishers of its era, a Schiffer first printing carries a single copyright year and no later-printing notation; a stated 'Second printing' or an added later date indicates a reprint. On more recent titles Schiffer prints a number line on the copyright page. As with the general industry convention, the lowest digit present indicates the printing, so a line still containing '1' is a first printing. The exact year Schiffer adopted the number line is not documented in standard references, so read the line itself rather than relying on a fixed cutoff date.
Does Schiffer Publishing use a number line?
On more recent titles Schiffer prints a number line on the copyright page. As with the general industry convention, the lowest digit present indicates the printing, so a line still containing '1' is a first printing. The exact year Schiffer adopted the number line is not documented in standard references, so read the line itself rather than relying on a fixed cutoff date.
Is a book-club edition a Schiffer Publishing first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Schiffer Military History is a leading source of heavily illustrated WWII equipment and unit references; out-of-print firsts are sought by collectors.
What era does this cover?
This covers Schiffer Publishing (1974-present; Cornell Maritime Press from 1938, acquired by Schiffer 2009). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.