How to identify a first printing
- c.1997–present: Small historical-society press (established 1997). First printings generally carry no explicit 'First Edition' statement; rely on the number line on the copyright page where present, with the lowest number indicating the printing (a '1' present indicates a first printing). A standard CIP/ISBN block appears on most titles. Where no number line is present, a single un-annotated copyright date with no later-printing line is consistent with a first printing.
- High-profile titles ran through MULTIPLE rapid printings: 'Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography' of Laura Ingalls Wilder (2014) sold out an initial run quickly and went into a second printing within months, reaching many printings since. Read the number line or printing statement carefully, as later printings of the first edition are common and are frequently mistaken for true firsts.
Notable points & cautions
- Publishing arm of the South Dakota State Historical Society, established 1997; focus on Plains/Dakota history and Western Americana.
- Publisher of the bestselling annotated 'Pioneer Girl' (2014), which had several quick printings, so the printing line is decisive for first-printing collectors.
- Small press: most scholarly titles see a single printing, which makes the absence of a later-printing line a reasonable indicator of a first printing.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Pioneer Girl Project. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my South Dakota State Historical Society Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. c.1997–present: Small historical-society press (established 1997). First printings generally carry no explicit 'First Edition' statement; rely on the number line on the copyright page where present, with the lowest number indicating the printing (a '1' present indicates a first printing). A standard CIP/ISBN block appears on most titles. Where no number line is present, a single un-annotated copyright date with no later-printing line is consistent with a first printing. High-profile titles ran through MULTIPLE rapid printings: 'Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography' of Laura Ingalls Wilder (2014) sold out an initial run quickly and went into a second printing within months, reaching many printings since. Read the number line or printing statement carefully, as later printings of the first edition are common and are frequently mistaken for true firsts.
Does South Dakota State Historical Society Press use a number line?
High-profile titles ran through MULTIPLE rapid printings: 'Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography' of Laura Ingalls Wilder (2014) sold out an initial run quickly and went into a second printing within months, reaching many printings since. Read the number line or printing statement carefully, as later printings of the first edition are common and are frequently mistaken for true firsts.
Is a book-club edition a South Dakota State Historical Society Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Publishing arm of the South Dakota State Historical Society, established 1997; focus on Plains/Dakota history and Western Americana.
What era does this cover?
This covers South Dakota State Historical Society Press (c.1997–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.