How to Identify a Skira Editore First Edition

How to identify a first printing

• The colophon states the year and edition; a first shows 'First edition' / 'Prima edizione' or the first-published year with no reprint line.
• Historic Albert Skira art books (mid-20th-century, famous for tipped-in color plates) are identified by the 'Editions d'Art Albert Skira, Genève' imprint, the year, and the printing colophon; many were printed once, and completeness of the mounted plates is essential.
• Where a number line appears on a modern Skira title, apply standard rules (lowest number = printing); number lines are not a consistent Skira convention, so rely chiefly on the colophon year and edition wording.
• Multilingual editions (French / Italian / English) of the same title are separate issues; match the original language and market.

Notable points & cautions

• Founded by Albert Skira in 1928 (originally Lausanne, soon relocated to Geneva); the classic Skira art books with tipped-in color plates are collected for those mounted plates, so completeness and the original imprint matter.
• Skira Rizzoli was a New York joint venture established around the end of 2006 and wound down by roughly 2015; a Skira Rizzoli copy is a distinct issue from a Milan Skira edition of the same title.
• The modern Skira Editore (Milan, since 1995) is a different corporate entity and era from the historic Editions d'Art Albert Skira (Geneva); the imprint and city date the issue.

Imprints

First editions also appear under: Skira, Skira Editore, Editions d'Art Albert Skira (historic, Geneva), Skira Rizzoli (former US JV, c.2006–2015), Skira / Flammarion (historic JV/distribution), Skira paperbacks / Skira Mini Artbooks. Each generally follows the house convention above.

Frequently asked questions

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

Check the copyright page. The colophon states the year and edition; a first shows 'First edition' / 'Prima edizione' or the first-published year with no reprint line. Historic Albert Skira art books (mid-20th-century, famous for tipped-in color plates) are identified by the 'Editions d'Art Albert Skira, Genève' imprint, the year, and the printing colophon; many were printed once, and completeness of the mounted plates is essential.

Does Skira Editore use a number line?

Historic Albert Skira art books (mid-20th-century, famous for tipped-in color plates) are identified by the 'Editions d'Art Albert Skira, Genève' imprint, the year, and the printing colophon; many were printed once, and completeness of the mounted plates is essential.

Is a book-club edition a Skira Editore first edition?

No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded by Albert Skira in 1928 (originally Lausanne, soon relocated to Geneva); the classic Skira art books with tipped-in color plates are collected for those mounted plates, so completeness and the original imprint matter.

What era does this cover?

This covers Skira Editore (1928–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.