How to identify a first printing
- First printings carry a descending number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' on the imprint page; the lowest number present indicates the printing.
- Confirm the 'First published by Serpent's Tail' statement and year; Viper titles (from 2019) carry the Viper colophon but follow the same number-line convention as the parent house.
- Mask Noir was an early branded crime/translated-noir series within Serpent's Tail — copyright pages still read Serpent's Tail.
- Serpent's Tail Classics copies are backlist reissues, not firsts.
Notable points & cautions
- Independent founded 1986 by Pete Ayrton; strong in translated European crime and literary fiction. An imprint of Profile Books since 2007.
- Viper (announced/launched 2019, first title in 2020) is the dedicated crime/thriller imprint led by Miranda Jewess; Serpent's Tail Classics reissues backlist.
- Many titles are first English/UK editions of translated authors, so 'first published by Serpent's Tail' can post-date the original-language first edition — the number line marks the first UK/English appearance, not a world first.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Serpent's Tail, Viper (crime/thriller imprint, launched 2019; first title published 2020), Serpent's Tail Classics, Mask Noir (early branded crime/translated-noir series). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Serpent's Tail book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. First printings carry a descending number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' on the imprint page; the lowest number present indicates the printing. Confirm the 'First published by Serpent's Tail' statement and year; Viper titles (from 2019) carry the Viper colophon but follow the same number-line convention as the parent house.
Does Serpent's Tail use a number line?
Confirm the 'First published by Serpent's Tail' statement and year; Viper titles (from 2019) carry the Viper colophon but follow the same number-line convention as the parent house.
Is a book-club edition a Serpent's Tail first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Independent founded 1986 by Pete Ayrton; strong in translated European crime and literary fiction. An imprint of Profile Books since 2007.
What era does this cover?
This covers Serpent's Tail (1986–present (Viper crime imprint from 2019)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.