How to identify a first printing
- Independent era (mid-twentieth century): first printings typically state 'First edition' or carry no later-printing notation; subsequent printings add 'Second printing'. Sailing and voyage narratives dominate.
- Later independent era (Lothar and Jeannine Simon as publishers): a number line appears on the copyright page; the lowest digit indicates the printing, so the presence of '1' signals a first printing. Many titles also state 'First published ... by Sheridan House' with year.
- As a Globe Pequot / Rowman & Littlefield imprint: Globe Pequot house style governs, a number line whose lowest digit indicates the printing. 'Sheridan House Maritime Classics' are explicitly reprints of earlier voyaging classics, NOT first editions of the original text.
Notable points & cautions
- Sheridan House was a principal US sailing-narrative publisher; firsts of voyaging accounts (e.g. titles by Hal Roth and Tristan Jones) are collected.
- Maritime Classics reissues carry a new ISBN and later date, distinct from the original first printing.
- Distribution moved between NBN and other distributors over time; distributor changes do not affect printing identification.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Sheridan House Maritime Classics (reprint line), Nathaniel Drinkwater nautical-fiction line. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Sheridan House book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Independent era (mid-twentieth century): first printings typically state 'First edition' or carry no later-printing notation; subsequent printings add 'Second printing'. Sailing and voyage narratives dominate. Later independent era (Lothar and Jeannine Simon as publishers): a number line appears on the copyright page; the lowest digit indicates the printing, so the presence of '1' signals a first printing. Many titles also state 'First published ... by Sheridan House' with year.
Does Sheridan House use a number line?
Later independent era (Lothar and Jeannine Simon as publishers): a number line appears on the copyright page; the lowest digit indicates the printing, so the presence of '1' signals a first printing. Many titles also state 'First published ... by Sheridan House' with year.
Is a book-club edition a Sheridan House first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Sheridan House was a principal US sailing-narrative publisher; firsts of voyaging accounts (e.g. titles by Hal Roth and Tristan Jones) are collected.
What era does this cover?
This covers Sheridan House (1940-present (independent through the Lothar and Jeannine Simon era; an imprint thereafter)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.