How to identify a first printing
- Standard descending number line on the copyright page; presence of '1' indicates a first printing.
- Many titles also carry explicit 'First Edition / First Printing' wording on the copyright page.
- A number line can mark the first printing of a specific format (e.g. a trade-paperback first printing distinct from an earlier hardcover); read it in the context of the stated binding/edition.
Notable points & cautions
- Conservation/nature publisher famous for the large-format Exhibit Format photographic series, begun with 'This Is the American Earth' (1960) and including Eliot Porter's 'In Wildness Is the Preservation of the World' (1962, the first color title); these oversized photo books are the prime first-edition collectibles, valued on condition, jacket and reproduction quality.
- Distribution partners varied over the decades (including Random House/Ballantine and Scribner), which can affect imprint and copyright-page presentation; the Sierra Club Books colophon identifies the line.
- For the photographic titles, watch for early-printing photo-reproduction quality and the presence of the original price and dust jacket.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Sierra Club Books book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Standard descending number line on the copyright page; presence of '1' indicates a first printing. Many titles also carry explicit 'First Edition / First Printing' wording on the copyright page.
Does Sierra Club Books use a number line?
Many titles also carry explicit 'First Edition / First Printing' wording on the copyright page.
Is a book-club edition a Sierra Club Books first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Conservation/nature publisher famous for the large-format Exhibit Format photographic series, begun with 'This Is the American Earth' (1960) and including Eliot Porter's 'In Wildness Is the Preservation of the World' (1962, the first color title); these oversized photo books are the prime first-edition collectibles, valued on condition, jacket and reproduction quality.
What era does this cover?
This covers Sierra Club Books (1960s-2000s). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.