How to identify a first printing
- Trade first printing states 'First edition' on the copyright page with a number line whose lowest digit is 1; a missing 1 indicates a later printing
- Big Mouth House and Peapod Classics use the same parent conventions with the imprint name on the title or copyright page
- Chapbooks and the LCRW zine line are saddle-stitched and identified by issue number rather than an edition statement
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 2000 by Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant; publishes literary SF and fantasy (Kelly Link's own collections, Ursula K. Le Guin reissues)
- A trade publisher, so the number-line and stated-edition method applies; it is not a multi-state limited house
- Also publishes the zine 'Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet' (LCRW), identified by issue rather than edition
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Big Mouth House (all-ages fiction imprint, launched 2008), Peapod Classics (reprint imprint). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Small Beer Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Trade first printing states 'First edition' on the copyright page with a number line whose lowest digit is 1; a missing 1 indicates a later printing Big Mouth House and Peapod Classics use the same parent conventions with the imprint name on the title or copyright page
Does Small Beer Press use a number line?
Big Mouth House and Peapod Classics use the same parent conventions with the imprint name on the title or copyright page
Is a book-club edition a Small Beer Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 2000 by Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant; publishes literary SF and fantasy (Kelly Link's own collections, Ursula K. Le Guin reissues)
What era does this cover?
This covers Small Beer Press (2000–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.