How to identify a first printing
- When a printing statement is present, first printings read 'First Edition' (sometimes 'First Soft Skull edition') on the copyright page.
- A number line, when present, identifies the printing by the lowest number shown rather than by the line's direction; a '1' anywhere in the row indicates a first printing. The row need not run strictly descending and need not literally end in 1.
- Later printings drop the lowest number (and may revise the printing statement).
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1992 by Sander Hicks (DIY photocopied/tape-bound runs); Richard Nash took it over around 2001 and sold it to Counterpoint in 2007. Counterpoint merged into Catapult in 2016; the Catapult/Counterpoint/Soft Skull group has been distributed by Penguin Random House in recent years.
- Earliest 1990s items often lack any formal number line — for those, rely on stated printing, format, and known issue points rather than a number row.
- No per-house first-printing convention is documented in the standard bibliographic references (Zempel & Verkler, McBride, Ahearn); treat the above as the modern US trade default applied to this house, not a house-specific rule. Medium confidence.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Soft Skull Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. When a printing statement is present, first printings read 'First Edition' (sometimes 'First Soft Skull edition') on the copyright page. A number line, when present, identifies the printing by the lowest number shown rather than by the line's direction; a '1' anywhere in the row indicates a first printing. The row need not run strictly descending and need not literally end in 1.
Does Soft Skull Press use a number line?
A number line, when present, identifies the printing by the lowest number shown rather than by the line's direction; a '1' anywhere in the row indicates a first printing. The row need not run strictly descending and need not literally end in 1.
Is a book-club edition a Soft Skull Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1992 by Sander Hicks (DIY photocopied/tape-bound runs); Richard Nash took it over around 2001 and sold it to Counterpoint in 2007. Counterpoint merged into Catapult in 2016; the Catapult/Counterpoint/Soft Skull group has been distributed by Penguin Random House in recent years.
What era does this cover?
This covers Soft Skull Press (1992–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.