How to identify a first printing
- States 'First Edition' on the copyright page WITH a descending number line ending in 1 ('10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1').
- Reliable test: explicit 'First Edition' statement together with the number-line 1.
- Pre-modern St. Martin's: first printings identified by absence of later-printing statements plus any 'First Edition' wording.
- Minotaur and Thomas Dunne (imprints) carry their own imprint name on the title page but use the same SMP/Macmillan convention.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1952 as the US arm of UK's Macmillan; now part of Macmillan (Holtzbrinck) trade group.
- Minotaur is the flagship mystery/crime imprint; Thomas Dunne Books was a prominent editor imprint (wound down 2020).
- Griffin is the trade-paperback REPRINT line — usually NOT a first.
- Watch for book-club editions of SMP mysteries: BCEs lack the number line / price and have a blind stamp or dot on the rear board.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Minotaur Books (mystery), Thomas Dunne Books, Griffin (trade paper), St. Martin's Essentials, Wednesday Books (YA), Truman Talley Books, SMP Swerve. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my St. Martin's Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. States 'First Edition' on the copyright page WITH a descending number line ending in 1 ('10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'). Reliable test: explicit 'First Edition' statement together with the number-line 1.
Does St. Martin's Press use a number line?
Reliable test: explicit 'First Edition' statement together with the number-line 1.
Is a book-club edition a St. Martin's Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1952 as the US arm of UK's Macmillan; now part of Macmillan (Holtzbrinck) trade group.
What era does this cover?
This covers St. Martin's Press (1952–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.